Sarah lost her husband early, leaving her to bring up her two daughters by herself. Throughout the years, not once did she complain. Her girls may not have had the best of everything, but they always had enough, and most importantly, they received a good education. Sarah worked two jobs, doing everything she could to pay for their schooling.
One day her eldest turned up with a boyfriend and announced he was to be her future husband. The problem was he had nowhere to live. When their baby arrived, the young family moved into Sarahs spare room, meaning Sarah now shared a bedroom with her younger daughter.
At first, Sarah believed this arrangement would be temporary, thinking the couple would eventually save up for a place of their own and life would return to normal. But her daughter and son-in-law were in no hurry. They had a roof over their heads and food always stocked in the fridge, which Sarah provided for everyone.
Sarah got nothing in return, not even a word of thanks. Instead, arguments started up. The younger daughter felt cleaning the bathroom after her brother-in-law wasnt her responsibility. The elder daughter claimed looking after a young child left her no time for chores. The son-in-law insisted taking out the rubbish and washing up was not a task for men, preferring to spend his time browsing the internet.
Home became so unpleasant Sarah dreaded returning after work. When she suggested to her eldest that the young family find a rental nearby, she was told, Were saving for a mortgage. Where would we get the money? So they stayed put.
The final straw came when the younger daughter brought home a boyfriend, announcing, Mum, hes from another town and we want him to live with us. Sarah wondered, Where? In our kitchen? Her daughter, expecting this question, calmly explained the kitchen wouldnt be comfortable, and suggested if Sarah moved there, the daughters could have the bedroom to themselves.
That was the breaking point. Sarah realised nobody cared what she thought.
She gave them an ultimatum: You have two weeks to pack up and find somewhere else to live. Both daughters were furious, promising shed never see her grandchildren and threatening shed end up alone in her old age.
But Sarah stood firm. After all those years of hard work, if this was the reward, so be it. It was time her daughters learned to stand on their own feet.
Now its Sarahs fiftieth birthday. She has no idea if her daughters will turn up.
Do you think Sarah was right to ask her daughters to leave? What would you do in her situation?
