I’m going to tell you about my daughter, Anne, who seems to have gone insane. She believes that just because I’m 90, I should be sent to a nursing home like an old piece of furniture because I still have plenty of life left. I told her right away, “If you don’t want to take care of me, I’ll take care of myself. I’ve got my savings, and I’ll use them to hire a caregiver and stay right here in my own house.” Well, she got upset because she thought she would get her hands on my money, and now she’s acting out because her little plan isn’t going to work.
It’s more than a month since she last visited or called. And she made sure to tell me not to bother her until I am ready to take my a** to a nursing home. Imagine being 90 and having just one daughter. All I was thinking these days was how God never gave me a son, or another daughter. Someone who would give some love to me. The lawyer started to speak, “Mrs. Anne, your mother has decided to take control of her assets and well-being. She has legally assigned her savings and property to be managed by a trust, with clear instructions that ensure her comfort and care without interference.
“Mother, I’m sorry. I realize now how wrong I was. Can we start over?” Anne called me that evening as we were having dinner. Her voice was softer and more subdued. I took a deep breath and answered, “Anne, it’s never too late to change. We can start over, but you need to understand that things will be different now. Respect and love must come first.”
As I sit here today, sipping my tea and watching the sunset, I am thankful for the strength I found within myself. I may be 90, but I am still capable of making my own decisions and living my life on my terms. Anne and I have found a new understanding, and my home is once again filled with love and respect. Anne’s visits started to increase, this time with genuine care and respect. And she even developed a good rapport with Mrs. Thompson. I could tell the lesson had taken hold.
This experience has given me a lesson that it’s never too late to stand up for yourself, to demand the respect you deserve, and to teach those around you the true meaning of love and family.