When I Got Off the Bus, I Saw My Mother Sitting on the Pavement Begging – My Husband and I Were Stunned, and No One Knew a Thing I’m 43, my mum is 67. Though we both live in London, we’re on opposite sides of the city. Like many elderly people, my mum needs regular care, but moving in with us isn’t possible—all because she keeps four cats and three dogs in her council flat. She also feeds every stray animal in her neighbourhood. Every penny I give her, meant for food and medicine, goes straight to her animals. I personally deliver groceries and whatever else she needs, because I know she’d spend any cash entirely on vet bills and pet food. Not long ago, my husband and I visited a friend and decided to leave the car and take the bus home. You can imagine my shock when we got off and saw my mum sitting on the pavement, begging for money. I was lost for words—my husband too, who knew exactly how much money I put aside for her. Naturally, he questioned where all our support was going. It turned out Mum was collecting money to feed her dogs and cats, and to pay for their jabs. It all sounds so tragic—but think: what would you do if you saw your own mother in such a state? How would your family, friends, and neighbours react? Of course everyone would think I’m a useless daughter, abandoning my mum and letting her waste away. Now, I go searching for my mum on every street. Even after I confronted her, she didn’t stop—she’s just gotten better at hiding it from me.

When I stepped off the bus that evening, I couldn’t quite believe my eyesthere sat my mother, huddled near the corner of the High Street, asking passersby for spare change. My wife and I were utterly dumbfounded. No one in the family had any inkling of this.

I’m 43 years old now; Mum’s 67. We both live in London, though on opposite sides of the city. Like many older folk, she really needs someone keeping an eye on her. But moving in with me is out of the question for a simple reasonshes got four cats and three dogs in her flat. On top of that, Mum feeds every stray she comes across in her neighbourhood. Every pound I give her goes, without fail, on pet food or medication for them. I know this, so Ive taken to bringing her groceries and toiletries myself, because otherwise, shed never spend a penny on herself.

Not long ago, my wife and I dropped by a mates place for tea and decided to leave the car there, catching the bus home for a change. Imagine my shock when, stepping off at our usual stop, I spotted Mum sat there, coat pulled tightly around her, hand extended to strangers. I was at a complete loss. My wife was just as taken aback. Shes always known that we set aside part of our pay for Mums needs.

Naturally, she asked what on earth Mum was doing there. It turns out my mother had been begging to collect money for her animalsfor their food and jabs.

It all sounds rather bleak, doesnt it? And yet, what would you feel if you stumbled across your own mother in such a state? What would friends, neighbours, the wider family think? Theyd surely believe Id been a dreadful, neglectful sonsimply letting my mother rot by the wayside. So now, I find myself scouring every street in Mums neighbourhood, trying to stop her. I know she hasnt stopped after what I said, shes just gotten better at hiding from me.

What Ive learned is that love can sometimes make people do baffling, even misguided things. Mums kindness leaves her vulnerable, and my responsibility is to look after her without letting her lose her dignityor herself.