The Last Time I Saw My Son: Heartbreak and Loneliness in Old Age — A Mother’s Story of Love, Rejection, and the Painful Silence That Followed Her Son’s Departure

Author Wanda MirandaReading 4 minViews 2

The elderly lady told me that it had been more than six years since she last set eyes on her son.

How long has it been since your son stopped speaking to you? I inquired gently of my neighbour, and as she looked at me, my heart felt heavy within my chest.

Its been six years now since I saw him last, she replied quietly. When he first moved away with his wife, hed ring me now and again, at least for a little while. But then, the calls stopped. Once, I even brought a cake for his birthday and went to see him Here, her voice trailed off, and she lowered her gaze. Tears welled up in her eyes.

And then? What happened? I urged softly.

It was my daughter-in-law who answered the door. She told me, quite plainly, that I wasnt welcome in their home. My son said nothing. He simply looked at me, as if Id done something wrong, then wouldnt meet my gaze. That was the last I saw of him.

Hes never rung you since? I could scarcely believe what I was hearing.

I called him once, when I decided to sell my three-bedroom house and move into something smaller. Of course, I gave him a share of the money. He came by, signed the papers, took the cheque, and never rang again.

Are you terribly lonely, or have you grown accustomed to being on your own? I couldnt help but ask the old lady.

Oh, I manage, she said, a slight smile flickering at her lips. When I was a young woman, I was left to raise my son alone. My husband ran off with another woman, and there we were, just the two of us. I did my very best to bring my boy up in love and care. Eventually, he told me he wanted to rent his own place. At first, I was delightedthought he was growing up, learning to make his own way.

But it was more complicated, you know. His sweetheartshe pressed for them to have their own flat, away from anyone who could intrude on their fun. She soon fell pregnant.

And you speak of all this so calmly? Doesnt it hurt you, your son leaving you at your age? I asked, somewhat taken aback.

Im used to it, she said, a gentle resignation in her tone. I like my new place. Ive got enough money for all I need. Every morning, I get out of bed, put the kettle on, and step out onto my little balcony with my tea. I watch the city waking up. When I was a young woman, I longed for mornings like theseI worked double shifts just to keep us afloat. I always dreamt that, in my old age, Id be surrounded by those I loved. But perhaps solitude was my fate.

Why not get a pet? Having someone around makes everything happier.

My dear, she replied, her voice soft yet steady, cats stray off sometimes, and as for a dog, I cant look after oneI dont know if Ill still rise with the morning. I cant take anyone in if I might not be able to care for them. Ive made one mistake already in my life; thats quite enough

She tried valiantly to stay composed, but at last her strength gave out, and she wept.

Children, never turn your backs on your parents. You are a part of them, and when they are gone, so too will a part of you be lost.

For about a year, my son had been living with Kate, yet we’d never met her parents—which seemed odd to me, so I decided to look into it I’ve always tried to raise my son to respect women above all—the women in his life: his grandmother, his mother, his wife, his daughter. In my opinion, there’s no finer quality in a man than respect for women. My husband and I made sure our son had an excellent upbringing and education, equipping him with everything he’d need for a smooth journey through life. We never wanted to help him out too much, but even so, we bought him a two-bedroom flat. Although he had a job and supported himself, he couldn’t quite afford a home of his own. We didn’t give him the flat right away—in fact, we didn’t even tell him we’d bought it. And why? Our son was living with his girlfriend, after all. For about a year, our son had been sharing his life with Kate, but we’d never met her parents, and I found that strange. Later, I discovered that Kate’s mother used to be a neighbour of one of my friends. She told me something that left me with a bad feeling. It turns out Kate’s mother threw her husband out when his income dropped—but the real drama was only just beginning… The mother then started seeing a married, but wealthy man. Kate’s grandmother, like her daughter, also had a relationship with a married man, and even forced both her daughter and granddaughter to go work on his country estate. Because of all this, my son had already had multiple run-ins with his future mother-in-law. But what unsettled me most about this story is that both the mother and grandmother were driving a wedge between Kate and her father. It’s clear the girl loves her dad, but because of these two women, her relationship with him is at risk. And to top it all off, Kate has decided to drop out of her studies. She believes a man should provide for the family. I see her point—I’ve raised my son to do just that—but heaven forbid they ever face hardship. Who’s to say what will happen if life throws them a curveball? How will she support her husband in tough times? By the way, I transferred the flat back into my name, since I know I’ve raised a gentle soul, as the saying goes. And yes, everything acquired before marriage isn’t split in a divorce—but I have a feeling Kate is clever enough to leave my ‘gentleman’ with nothing but his socks.

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— Needless to Say, This Is All My Fault! — My Boyfriend’s Sister Sobs, “I Couldn’t Have Imagined Something Like This Would Happen!” Now I Don’t Know What to Do, or How I’ll Manage Without Completely Losing Face My Boyfriend’s Sister Got Married a Few Years Ago. After the Wedding, It Was Decided the Newlyweds Would Live with Her Husband’s Mother. His Parents Have a Spacious Three-Bedroom Flat and Only One Son. “You Can Have Two Rooms, I’ll Keep One!” Promised the Mother-in-Law. “We’re All Decent People—I’m Sure We’ll Get Along Just Fine.” “We Can Always Find Our Own Place Later!” Her Husband Said, “But I Don’t See Any Harm in Trying to Live with My Mum. If It Doesn’t Work, We Can Always Move Out…” That’s Exactly What Happened. As It Turned Out, Living Together Wasn’t So Easy. Both Daughter-in-Law and Mother-in-Law Tried, but Things Got Worse Each Day. Tensions Boiled Over Now and Then, and the Arguments Grew More Frequent. “You Said If It Didn’t Work, We’d Move Out!” His Wife Cried to Him. “Well, Haven’t We Managed So Far?” His Mum Responded Dismissively. “These Are Just Trivialities—Hardly Reason to Pack Your Bags.” Exactly a Year After the Wedding, She Became Pregnant and Delivered a Healthy Baby Boy. The Baby’s Birth Coincided with Her Mother-in-Law Taking Early Retirement and Struggling to Find a New Job—No One Wants to Hire an Older Woman. So Daughter-in-Law and Mother-in-Law Stared at Each Other All Day, with Nowhere Else to Go. The Home Atmosphere Soured Quickly. The Husband Just Shrugged and Listened to the Complaints—He Was the Only Breadwinner. “We Can’t Move Out Yet—My Mum Can’t Support Herself. I Can’t Leave Her, and I Can’t Afford Both Rent and Helping Mum. Once She Finds Something, We’ll Move!” But His Wife’s Patience Was Exhausted. She Packed for Herself and the Baby and Moved Back to Her Own Mum’s. Before Leaving, She Told Her Husband She’d Never Set Foot in His Mother’s House Again. If He Cared About His Family, He’d Figure Something Out. She Expected That, Because He Loved His Family, He’d Try Straight Away to Win Her Back. But She Was Very Much Mistaken. It’s Been Over Three Months Since She Moved Out, and He Hasn’t Even Tried to Bring Her Back. Instead, He’s Living Comfortably with His Mum, Video Calling Wife and Child After Work, and Visiting on the Weekends at His Mother-in-Law’s. He’s Enjoying the Care of Two Women at Once, and—other than the occasional weekend—doesn’t even have to look after his son. His Life’s a Win! And the Mother-in-Law, frankly, hasn’t lost a thing! Meanwhile, the Young Woman Feels Miserable. She Loves Her Husband, Even Knowing He’s Doing Wrong. “What Did You Expect When You Left?” The Husband Shrugs, “You Can Come Back Whenever You Want.” It’s Obvious the Wife Has No Intention—or Ability—to Move into a Flat Alone, Especially as a New Mum on Maternity Leave. Is This Really the End of Their Family? What Do You Think—Does She Have Even the Slightest Chance of Returning to Her Mother-in-Law’s Home Without Completely Losing Face?