Dear friends, let me tell you about my daughter Anna, who seems to have lost her mind. She thinks that just because I am 90 years old, I should be sent to some nursing home like old furniture. I’m not ready for any home; I still have a lot of life in me.
So I told her bluntly: ‘If you don’t want to take care of me, I’ll take care of myself. I have savings and I’ll hire a carer and stay here in my home.’
That pissed her off more than a wet hen! Turns out she was counting on getting her hands on my money. Now she’s freaking out because her little plan isn’t going to work. To her, I’m just an old thing that can give her the money she ‘urgently’ needs.
It’s been over a month since she last visited me or called me. And she made sure to tell me not to bother her until I was ready to hand my arse off to a nursing home. Imagine being 90 and only having one daughter. All I thought about these days was how God didn’t give me a son or another daughter. Someone to give me love.
The lawyer began to speak, ‘Mrs Ann, your mother has decided to take control of her assets and wealth. She has legally placed her savings and property under a trust with clear instructions that will ensure her comfort and care without interference.’
As the weeks passed, the house grew quieter without Anna’s visits. But it was a peaceful silence, filled with the sounds of Mrs Thompson humming and the birds outside the window. My days were filled with reading, gardening and enjoying the company of a carer who was genuinely concerned for my welfare.
One evening as we sat down to dinner, the phone rang. It was Anne. Her voice was softer, muffled. ‘Mum, I’m so sorry. I realise now how wrong I was. Can we start over?’
I took a deep breath and replied, ‘Ann, it’s never too late to change. We can start over, but you have to realise that things will be different now. Respect and love must come first.’
A new beginning
Ann began to visit more often, this time with genuine care and respect. Our relationship gradually improved and she even found common ground with Mrs Thompson. I could see that the lesson had been learnt. She now realised that her actions had consequences and that true love for parents is shown in respect and care, not greed.
As I sit here today, sipping tea and admiring the sunset, I am grateful for the strength I have found in myself. I may be 90, but I am still capable of making my own decisions and living life on my own terms. Anna and I have found a new understanding and my home is once again filled with love and respect.
This experience has taught me that it is never too late to stand up for yourself, demand the respect you deserve, and teach others the true meaning of love and family.
