I’ve always respected my mother for her sacrifices and commitment to our family, but lately I’ve been wondering about her priorities. My son is starting college, and any financial assistance helps, so I was disappointed to learn that my 70-year-old mother had spent $1,800 on a designer dress rather than adding to his college fund. My mother has always put others before herself, working endlessly to support us and frequently forgoing things so we could have what we needed, so her decision to spend so much money on a dress felt so unexpected.
She gave me a straightforward but impactful response when I questioned her about it. “I’ve given my children everything for seventy years,” she remarked. “I wanted something for myself just once.” I paused at what she said. I realized that after a lifetime of sacrifice, she wasn’t being selfish—she was finally allowing herself to enjoy what she wanted.
I started to view things differently, but it wasn’t easy to let go of my initial fury. My mother has dedicated her life to helping others. Who was I to stop her from being happy if purchasing a dress made her happy? Maybe it was her way of reminding herself that she’s more than just a mom or a grandma. And maybe, that was a lesson I needed to learn .