**Diary Entry 12th March**
We had such high hopes that my mother would retire, move to the countryside, and leave her three-bedroom flat to me and my husband!
I must tell you about my neighbour, Lucille. Shes 68 now and had been living alone in that spacious flat. Recently, she decided to rent it out and go travelling.
Her daughter, Alice, came to me in a huff and complained:
What on earth is my mother doing? Shes let me down terribly! Now my mother-in-law keeps shouting that Ill lose my marbles in old age too. She says the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. And here we are, just taken out a loan for a caralready two months behind on payments! We were counting on Mum to bail us out, but noshes gone off gallivanting instead!
I stared at Alice, baffled. Why should her mother pay for their car? She carried on:
My mother-in-laws furious were still living in her house while Mum rents hers out!
I could tell Alice wanted sympathy, but honestly, I think Lucille did the right thing. Shes earned the right to live as she pleases. Why do people assume a woman must sacrifice everything for her children and grandchildren the moment she retires? Thats hardly fair. I asked Alice:
Why not stand on your own two feet? Why didnt you and your husband spend the last 15 years saving for your own home? Then your mother-in-law wouldnt have a leg to stand on.
Alice sighed. We just assumed Mum would retire to some quaint village cottage and hand us the flat!
I couldnt resist teasing her. What if Lucille remarries? Shes got a friend who went on holiday to Spain, met a lovely bloke, and settled there. Happily married now. Maybe Lucille will do the same.
Alice gaped at me. The other day, I saw Lucilles photos onlineshe looked radiant, writing about how shes finally living for herself. Good for her. Age shouldnt be a cage. Happiness and adventure dont come with an expiry date.
**Lesson learned:** Expecting others to fund your life is a fools errand. Independencenow thats worth saving for.
