I knew: I was no longer going to be a hostage to other people’s expectations.
That day, the neighbors began to notice changes: for the first time, I walked through the neighborhood without rushing, went into a store and chose a cup of tea for myself — instead of baby food. Every little action felt like a small victory. The next day, my son called, trying to persuade me.
But I was already different.
My son and his wife announced that they were expecting their fifth child, and I simply could no longer handle taking care of the kids։ I stepped back — and then they called the police, and what happened next surprised everyone
— Mom, we need your help…
I hung up and quietly told myself: “Now it’s my turn to take care of myself.”
And for the first time in many years, I felt that it wasn’t selfishness at all — it was long-awaited freedom.
