Ten years ago, after divorcing my husband, I went to Italy to stay with a friend: to distract myself and earn some money. I ended up staying for many years. During this time, my son got married, and they had children. We communicated through video calls, and I sent them around one and a half thousand euros every month.
Finally, after a decade, I returned home with my earnings. In Italy, I worked as a masseuse and took care of an elderly woman. I was so happy to leave it all behind! I rejoiced when I hugged my son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren I saw for the first time. Thanks to my help, they did a quality renovation in their old two-bedroom apartment.
I praised my children, then shared my immediate plans. I said I would buy my own apartment because, of course, I didn’t return empty-handed. I dream of rebuilding my personal life, as I’ve been in a long-distance relationship with a former classmate who is also divorced. Maybe something will work out for us? But the children weren’t happy with this news. It turned out they thought I brought them money, and they would buy a larger three-bedroom apartment for themselves and the kids, while they would fold this one to avoid working. Can you imagine? All these years, neither my son nor daughter-in-law worked; they lived on the money I sent.
And they had no plans to work in the future. But look at the plan they came up with! I thought of living with them for a while, doing some renovations in my old one-bedroom apartment to sell it at a better price, but I didn’t do it. Now I live in my own apartment and am simultaneously doing renovations. Meanwhile, with Ivan, whom I’ve been dating for a month, we are looking for a larger place for ourselves. Unfortunately, I rarely communicate with the children. It’s a pity I don’t see the grandchildren often.
But soon, I think the situation will change because my daughter-in-law called yesterday and asked me to spend time with the boys tomorrow since she has a job interview, and my son is also looking for work. Finally! They squeezed comfortably around my neck and thought it would be like that forever. Oh no, children, I also want to live for myself!
