We worked hard, asked for nothing…now they demand our retirement money
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A mother thought she had done everything right—working multiple jobs and giving up luxuries to raise her daughter alone.
Now, just as she prepares to enjoy a well-earned retirement, her child has accused her of being ‘selfish’.
The heartbreak isn’t just in the words—it’s in the silence that followed.
After decades of sacrifice, a 55-year-old mother said she hoped to finally rest and enjoy the life she had put on hold.
She had raised her now 26-year-old daughter mostly on her own, doing everything possible to give her a solid start.
‘I worked multiple jobs, sacrificed vacations and skipped luxuries to give my daughter a decent life,’ the woman explained.
‘She had everything she needed growing up in private school, a used car at 18, even partial support through college. I never asked for much in return, just for her to be responsible and independent.’
But when the mother revealed her retirement plans—built over ten years of careful saving—the reaction wasn’t what she expected.
Her daughter believed that money should go to her instead.
‘Her response? “You should use that money to help me get a house,”’ the woman shared in a post to social media.
The mother stood her ground.
‘I told her kindly, but firmly I have already done my job as a parent. I’m not rich. I just planned well,’ she said.
‘Honestly, I deserve some peace… I’m the one who went through hell to raise her with stability.’
But the daughter didn’t take it well.
‘She snapped and said, “So you're just going to be selfish now? After everything I went through growing up?”’ the woman revealed.
Support flooded in from commenters who sided with the mother.
‘Don’t fall for it. She’s trying to guilt trip you into using the money for,’ one person warned.
Another added: ‘She’s playing a game and it ain’t a fair one.’
‘Your daughter is ungrateful and entitled. That’s likely because she hasn’t had to go without, as mum has always gone without to step in. We single mums don’t know when to stop… but this is time now,’ a third person commented.
Despite the firm stance, the fallout has been painful.
‘She’s been giving me the cold shoulder and telling other relatives that I’m “hoarding money” while she struggles to pay rent,’ the mother explained.
‘I sacrificed so much to give her a good start, not to fund her entire adulthood. I deserve to rest too.’
If you've ever felt torn between helping your children and protecting your future, you're not alone.
Stories like this are becoming more common, where parents feel pressured to prioritise their children's wants over their own financial security.
One family drama even erupted over an inheritance that hadn’t yet been passed on—sparking a painful clash over money and entitlement.
Read more: ‘It’s my inheritance!’: What happens when adult kids feel entitled to your money
Is it selfish for parents to enjoy their retirement if their adult children are still struggling?
Now, just as she prepares to enjoy a well-earned retirement, her child has accused her of being ‘selfish’.
The heartbreak isn’t just in the words—it’s in the silence that followed.
After decades of sacrifice, a 55-year-old mother said she hoped to finally rest and enjoy the life she had put on hold.
She had raised her now 26-year-old daughter mostly on her own, doing everything possible to give her a solid start.
‘I worked multiple jobs, sacrificed vacations and skipped luxuries to give my daughter a decent life,’ the woman explained.
Mum defends retirement plans after sacrifice. Image source: Pexels/RDNE Stock project
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
‘She had everything she needed growing up in private school, a used car at 18, even partial support through college. I never asked for much in return, just for her to be responsible and independent.’
But when the mother revealed her retirement plans—built over ten years of careful saving—the reaction wasn’t what she expected.
Her daughter believed that money should go to her instead.
‘Her response? “You should use that money to help me get a house,”’ the woman shared in a post to social media.
The mother stood her ground.
‘I told her kindly, but firmly I have already done my job as a parent. I’m not rich. I just planned well,’ she said.
‘Honestly, I deserve some peace… I’m the one who went through hell to raise her with stability.’
But the daughter didn’t take it well.
‘She snapped and said, “So you're just going to be selfish now? After everything I went through growing up?”’ the woman revealed.
Support flooded in from commenters who sided with the mother.
‘Don’t fall for it. She’s trying to guilt trip you into using the money for,’ one person warned.
Another added: ‘She’s playing a game and it ain’t a fair one.’
‘Your daughter is ungrateful and entitled. That’s likely because she hasn’t had to go without, as mum has always gone without to step in. We single mums don’t know when to stop… but this is time now,’ a third person commented.
Despite the firm stance, the fallout has been painful.
‘She’s been giving me the cold shoulder and telling other relatives that I’m “hoarding money” while she struggles to pay rent,’ the mother explained.
‘I sacrificed so much to give her a good start, not to fund her entire adulthood. I deserve to rest too.’
If you've ever felt torn between helping your children and protecting your future, you're not alone.
Stories like this are becoming more common, where parents feel pressured to prioritise their children's wants over their own financial security.
One family drama even erupted over an inheritance that hadn’t yet been passed on—sparking a painful clash over money and entitlement.
Read more: ‘It’s my inheritance!’: What happens when adult kids feel entitled to your money
Is it selfish for parents to enjoy their retirement if their adult children are still struggling?
