Tag Page parenting

#parenting
Mary Vasquez

he says he’s investing in crypto — but can’t pay rent.

I thought he was finally working again. He’d stay up all night, staring at charts, whispering about “market opportunities.” He even bought a second monitor. Then one morning, I saw his screen—red everywhere. Crypto. He’d lost thousands. I tried to stay calm. “Honey, you can’t gamble your future.” He snapped: “It’s not gambling, Mom, it’s investing!” I told him he still owed me for rent. He said, “You just don’t get it. This is how people make it now.” But the truth is, I think he’s chasing something that doesn’t exist. Not money. Not freedom. Validation. He wants to feel like he’s not behind. Like he didn’t mess up his 20s. I get it. But watching him drown in “opportunities” feels like losing him in slow motion. Do I pull him out—or let him hit bottom first? #Family #Crypto #Parenting

he says he’s investing in crypto — but can’t pay rent.
Mary Vasquez

he’s been “working from home” for two years — but i’m starting to think that job doesn’t exist.

He says he works remotely. Every morning he sits at his desk, headphones on, typing like he’s in a meeting. But there’s something off. No calls. No emails. No paychecks. I asked him once, gently, “So… what exactly do you do?” He said, “Mom, you wouldn’t understand tech stuff.” I backed off. For months. Then last week, a letter came from the bank. Overdraft fees. Again. Turns out he hasn’t had a steady job since 2022. He’s been “freelancing.” Freelancing at what? No one knows. I wanted to scream. Instead, I asked him, “Why didn’t you tell me?” He said, “Because you’d see me as a failure.” I didn’t know what to say. I raised a man who’s too proud to ask for help— and too scared to grow up. Do I push him harder… or just let life do it for me? #Family #Unemployment #Parenting

he’s been “working from home” for two years — but i’m starting to think that job doesn’t exist.
sgarcia

Australian mom uses her body as a shield to protect her baby during a hail storm😭😭😭

One of the most moving stories I’ve heard in years 😭 The 23-year-old mother was driving her car on the Highway with her four-month-old baby and her grandmother when the car got caught up in the supercell thunderstorms that ripped through southeast Queensland on Thursday. She parked on the side of the road when the storm became too heavy, but then the hail blew out the windows in her car!! Then she "covered my infant with my body to stop her from getting badly injured". What a brave and loving mother for protecting her child!! But then again, I would hope we all would for our children. If not, you shouldn’t have any. I'm not advocating that the meaning of life is solely about having children and selflessly dedicating yourself to family. Quite the opposite, I fully support everyone having their own beliefs, whether that's staying single or being childfree—it doesn't matter. I just want to emphasize that once you choose to bring a life into the world, you should love that child with your whole heart and soul! #Motherhood #BraveMom #Parenting #RealLifeHeroes #AustraliaNews #Storm

Australian mom uses her body as a shield to protect her baby during a hail storm😭😭😭Australian mom uses her body as a shield to protect her baby during a hail storm😭😭😭Australian mom uses her body as a shield to protect her baby during a hail storm😭😭😭
familyFIRST

The Day My Dad Made Me Ride a Carousel at 24

My parents came to visit me in Minneapolis, and like every family outing, we wandered the Mall of America. Somewhere between the giant Lego store and the food court, we passed the carousel. My dad stopped, eyes bright like a child’s. "You MUST go on that ride!" Dad burst out, totally hyped. "It'll be fun! Please!" My sister and I were getting annoyed. "No. We're not babies anymore." We kept walking, but then I realized Dad wasn't with us. I turned around. There he was, 52 and graying, just watching that carousel. Watching parents with their kids, listening to giggles, seeing them wave as they passed.Something about that image hit me in the chest. I tugged my sister’s arm. “Come on. Let’s ride it.” We turned around and told Dad. His face lit up, like we’d just handed him the moon. He rushed to buy the tickets, practically bouncing as he handed them over. The carousel was slow and creaky, the kind that plays tinny music and smells faintly of popcorn. But every time we passed, my parents were there waving, snapping photos, laughing so hard their shoulders shook. If there's anything I hate more than watching my parents get old, it's watching them feel old. Sometimes love isn’t in the grand gestures. Sometimes it’s just climbing onto a carousel you’re too old for, waving like you mean it, and letting someone you love see you as their child again. ❤️ *** I guess it's that kind of "Forget it, I'll do it" moment. That was really, really sweet. If you are young now, you may not realize exactly how much until around 2045. #FamilyFirst #FamilySupport #Parenting #Love #FamilyStories

The Day My Dad Made Me Ride a Carousel at 24
Mary Vasquez

i started charging my 29-year-old son rent. he found out—and lost it.

I didn’t plan it this way. I just… got tired. Tired of the groceries disappearing. Tired of the power bill doubling. Tired of watching him live like a guest who never leaves. So I opened a separate account. Every month, I quietly transferred $300 from his old checking—yes, the one I helped him open when he was 17. I told myself it was “symbolic rent.” Not enough to hurt him, just enough to remind him that adulthood has a price. Last week, he found out. He called me “sneaky,” said I’d betrayed his trust. He packed his things, swore he’d never ask for help again. Then two days later, he was back—because his friend’s couch “wasn’t comfortable.” Now the house is quiet. We eat in silence. He avoids me like a stranger. I feel guilty, but also strangely… free. Maybe this is what boundaries sound like. Do you think I crossed the line? Or finally drew one? #Family #Money #Parenting

i started charging my 29-year-old son rent. he found out—and lost it.