It all started when my son Tomek and daughter Kasia came to me asking for help.
My home was my refuge. Every corner was filled with memories – my children's first steps, family dinners, laughter and love. Selling it was the hardest decision of my life, but I did it with my children in mind. I believed that I was helping them fulfill their dreams, that they would be grateful and that there would always be a place for me in their lives. I didn't think that this step would be the beginning of my loneliness.
It all started when my son Tomek and daughter Kasia came to me asking for help. Tomek wanted to develop his business, which had been struggling with financial problems for months. Kasia, on the other hand, needed money for an apartment to provide better conditions for her children.
– „Mom, I know it's a lot, but if you sell the house, you could help us both. We promise we'll never forget you,– Kasia said, looking at me with hope.
I knew that selling the house meant saying goodbye to a place that was a part of me, but their words of mutual support and gratitude convinced me. I decided to take this step, believing that I was doing it for the good of the family.
The house was sold, and the money was divided between Tomek and Kasia. I moved to a small rented apartment myself. At first, I felt proud that I could help my children. I often called them, asking how they were doing, if they needed anything else.
But over time, their calls became less and less frequent, and my visits were treated with cold distance.
One day I called Kasia to ask if I could spend some time with my grandchildren.
– „Mom, you know we have a lot on our minds right now. The kids have classes, and we have jobs. Besides, you really should learn to be more independent– came the reply.
Those words hurt me more than I could have imagined. I was an obstacle to her, someone who didn't fit into her new life.
Tomek had also started avoiding me. When I asked if I could come over for dinner, he replied:
– „Mom, now is not the best time. Maybe another time, okay? Thanks for everything, but I have to focus on the company.”
I felt my heart break. I had given everything I had, hoping that my family would support me, but instead I was left alone. Living in a rented apartment, without my loved ones, was something I wasn't ready for.
I tried to talk to them, tell them how I felt, but every conversation ended in an argument. Kasia said I was exaggerating, and Tomek avoided the subject, claiming that “life can be hard for everyone”.
– „Mom, it was your decision. We didn't force you– Kasia said during one of their last conversations.
These words were like a blow. My decision? Did they really not see that I did all this for them?
Today I live alone, in a small apartment that does not resemble the home I once had. I see my children occasionally, and their conversations are cursory, full of distance. Although their lives seem to be improving, I am left with a sense of loss and bitterness that my sacrifice has been forgotten.
I don't regret wanting to help, but I've learned one thing – you can't build your happiness on sacrifices that aren't appreciated. Now I try to live for myself, although the pain of losing my home and my relationship with my children still haunts me. I don't know if I'll ever forgive them, but I know I have to find the strength to move on.
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