My 68-year-old mom has no home now. She can’t pay her rent anymore and asked if she could live with me.
She has no money left because she used all her retirement savings to help my younger sister and her four kids.
Six months ago, my sister, who’s a single mom, got a serious illness and lost her job. My mom paid for her treatments and took care of all the kids’ needs.
I have a steady job as an architect and have always supported myself. So when my mom came to my house, I told her, “Don’t ask for my help. You never gave me anything!”
She just smiled and walked away.
The next day, while I was at work, my mom called and told me I had one week to pay back all the money she spent on my college. I thought she was just angry and didn’t take her words seriously.
When I got home later, I was shocked to see my mom outside, really angry. She yelled, “You said I never helped you, but I paid for your studies and gave you everything! I need money now, and if you don’t pay me back, don’t ever call me your mother again!”
I didn’t know what to say.
It’s true that my parents paid for my education, but isn’t that what parents usually do? Since I finished school, I’ve been taking care of myself, while my sister used up all of Mom’s retirement money.
So, is it fair that I should be the one to pay her back?