“You exploited her kindness,” I told them firmly. “You don’t get to stay after trying to push her out of her own home.”
Roger protested, claiming they’d done so much for her, but my mother responded calmly. “You made my life harder with your complaints. Now it’s time for you to stand on your own.”
Defeated, they moved to a modest apartment arranged through social services. Cameron, ashamed of his parents’ behavior, apologized to my mom. “Don’t blame yourself,” she said gently. “You did what family does. But they crossed the line.”
Feeling a mix of guilt and relief, Cameron and I later visited them. Over lunch, Jessica admitted, “We were wrong to take advantage of Tanya’s kindness.” Cameron didn’t hold back. “You disrespected my wife’s mother. How do you think that made me feel?”
On the way home, Cameron bought flowers for my mom. “She deserves this,” he said, handing them to her with a heartfelt apology.
“What would you have done in my shoes?” my mom asked, her eyes sparkling with quiet satisfaction.
Looking back, I realized my mother had handled everything with grace and strength—offering help, setting boundaries, and teaching a lesson in gratitude and respect. Sometimes, loving family means making hard decisions that leave a lasting impact.