**Diary Entry**
At 65, it dawned on meour children dont need us anymore. How do we accept this and finally live for ourselves?
Im 65 now, and for the first time, Ive realised that the three children my husband and I poured everything intoour time, energy, savingshave taken what they needed and moved on without us. Our son, James, doesnt even answer my calls anymore. Some days, I wonder: when were older, will any of them even bother to check on us?
I married Charles at 25. Wed been classmates, and hed pursued me relentlessly, even following me to university. A year after our quiet wedding, I fell pregnant, and our daughter Sophie arrived. Charles dropped out to work, while I took a break from my studies.
Those years were tough. Charles worked endless hours, and I juggled motherhood with finishing my degree. Two years later, I was pregnant again. I switched to part-time studies, and Charles pushed himself harder to keep us afloat.
Somehow, we raised themSophie, our eldest, and James, our son. When Sophie started school, I finally landed a job in my field. Life eased a little; Charles had steady work by then, and wed made a home. But just as we caught our breath, I was pregnant once more.
Our youngest, Charlotte, brought new challenges. Charles worked longer hours, and I devoted myself to her. Ive no idea how we managed, but bit by bit, we found our footing again. When Charlotte started school, I felt a weight lift.
But life wasnt done testing us. Sophie announced her engagement just as she began university. We didnt stand in her waywed married young ourselves. The wedding and helping her with a flat drained our savings.
Then James wanted his own place. We couldnt refuse, so we took out another loan and bought him a flat. Thankfully, he landed a good job soon after.
When Charlotte finished secondary school, she set her sights on studying overseas. Money was tight, but we scraped together enough to send her off. She left, and suddenly, the house was empty.
Now, the visits grew fewer. Sophie, though she lives nearby, rarely pops in. James sold his flat, moved to London, and now we see him even less. Charlotte, after graduating, stayed abroad.
We gave them everythingour youth, our money, our care. And in return? Weve become an afterthought. We dont expect handouts. Just a call now and then, a visit, a kind word.
But perhaps thats too much to ask. Maybe, at 65, its time we stopped waiting and started living for ourselves. Havent we earned that much?
