Mothers are incredibly resilient humans. No matter what our children put us through, we somehow still love them and want only what is best for them. The young man in our story today, which was inspired by the readers of AmoMama, came to realize just how much his mother loved him, and that he should have made more time for her. Some lessons are taught in extreme ways.
A proud mother
Kirsten was a hard-working woman. She’d had her son, Jeffery when she was only 22 years old. Sadly, Jeffery’s father was never interested in being a dad. So, Kirsten raised little Jeff all on her own. She worked two jobs but managed to get her son through the first 18 years of his life. She was so proud of him when he graduated high school with honors and wanted to become a lawyer.
Jeff eventually let his mother know that the university he would be attending was in California, far away from where they lived. While Kirsten was sad her son was leaving, she knew he would become the best lawyer by attending that school. The pair kept in touch often and Jeff called his mom at least once a week.
Unfortunately, Kirsten was never able to afford a trip to California to visit Jeff, so phone calls were all she had. Even when Jeff started phoning her less frequently, she still loved her chats with her son when he had the time.
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Graduation
Jeff was soon ready to graduate and put that hard-earned law degree to work. He called his mother to let her know what day his graduation was and that he hoped she could make it. Kirsten assured him that she would be there, but she knew that she could not afford it. She was older now and could no longer work two jobs. She still decided to take on some babysitting jobs to try to save to see her son graduate.
And save she did. as the day of her son’s graduation loomed, she realized she was now able to buy her plane ticket and even a gift for her wonderful son. She went to the mall and found a little store with a beautiful watch. She decided it was the perfect gift because all corporate men should own a nice watch.
Jeff was thrilled to see his mother when she arrived, and she was extremely grateful to be able to see Jeff graduate.
Time together
Jeff and his mother spent the night of his graduation together, she had just enough money to take him for dinner at a nice steakhouse. She presented him with his gift and Jeff proudly took the cheap watch out of its box and put it on. He told his mother he would always wear it because that way he would always be reminded of her. He thanked his mother and the pair went back to his flat where they shared stories and laughs.
Unfortunately, Kirsten had to return home eventually. The day came when she had to catch her flight back home. Jeff told his mother that he would call her as often as he could. She understood that her son was going to be a very busy man. But she had no idea just how busy it would be. She hugged and kissed her son goodbye and got on the plane. She was so pleased that Jeff had turned out so well. Kirsten loved her son so very much, and never once doubted that he would call her a lot.
Dwindling contact
Jeff was a businessman now, he had little time. He was snapped up very fast by a large law firm. His calls to his mother went from weekly, to bi-weekly, to monthly, to every couple of months. Kirsten was sad but she knew that her boy had to grow up at some point. She was just pleased to have the calls they did have.
Unfortunately, Jeffery never noticed when his mother started to sound ill and depressed. She tried to ask for help but was too ashamed. She hinted at not being well and Jeffery simply told her to go for walks and talk to the neighbors. Poor Kirsten had aged quite a bit and barely even recognized herself in the mirror.
A Surprise visit
Many few years passed and Jeffery decided he would open his own law firm. He had not really spoken to his mother much in the past year. He decided to surprise her with a flight home, he needed to collect some documents in order to get his practice up and running anyway. Jeffery booked his flight and excitedly took a cab to his old home. The home he had not seen in so many years. He was also excited to see his mother.
Jeffery arrived at his childhood home and gasped as he got out of the cab. The fence around the front yard was broken and unpainted, the garden was dead and the house was in shambles. Jeff walked up to the door and noticed it was not even locked. Jeffery was confused as he pushed open the door and noticed that the inside of the house was in shambles too.
He called out for Kirsten but there was no reply. The house was a mess and only an old sofa remained in the living room. Jeffery tried to phone his mom but there was no answer. He quickly made his way to the neighbor’s house.
The confusion
Jeffery hurriedly knocked on the door. This house was in tip-top shape, unlike his childhood home. As soon as the neighbor answered the door, Jeffery asked where his mother was. The woman seemed very confused and asked him what he meant. Jeff was incredibly shocked to hear that his hometown had been hit by an earthquake, and his mother’s home had been so badly affected that she could not afford the repairs. This had prompted her to move into an assisted living facility.
Jeffery had no idea. He could not believe that all this time he had been suggesting his mother go for walks while really she was living in a delipidated house. Jeffery left his luggage with the friendly neighbor and called another cab to take him to the home his mother was living in.
Begging for forgiveness
Finally, Jeffery arrived at the assisted living facility. It was not a top-of-the-range sort of place. His heart was broken. Eventually, a lady helped him and showed him to his mother’s room. He found her sitting in a chair, staring out of the window. Her bedroom was tiny. “MOM” he exclaimed and he rushed up to her. Kirsten was so happy to see her son, and then immediately embarrassed by where she was living.
She told Jeffery she was sorry for not telling him, that she did not want to burden him. He had been so busy making a success of himself, she could not bear to hinder it. Jeff told his mother that it was him who was sorry. He was sorry for not noticing when she needed him. He begged his mother to forgive him, and she smiled. She told her son that all that mattered was that he was there now.
Jeffery arranged for his mother to move to California. He purchased a larger home, one with a little garden cottage, especially for his mom. He vowed to never neglect her again and made sure she wanted for nothing. Soon, her health improved, and she was even able to help bring up her grandchildren.
This story was inspired by an original piece of fiction that first appeared on AmoMama. Any similarities between this story and actual people is purely coincidental
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