I’m a 58-year-old⁣ mom to ⁢my daughter Sarah, who’s 32 and just had ​her third baby. My husband, who’s 60, and I live about half an hour away from her ‌family.

Last night, my daughter⁤ called ‌me ​in tears. “Mom, please,” she⁤ cried, “I need to go to the hospital. Can you watch the kids?”

She‍ was in pain after giving birth but with three little ⁣ones under five years old, I panicked and said no. A heavy silence ​filled the call. Then I suggested a last-minute idea: “Could you take⁢ the kids with you? Or‌ maybe… ⁤ask a neighbor for help?”

Sarah’s voice shook with worry. “Mom, please,” she pleaded again, “I’m hurting so much ⁢and don’t know what to do! The ⁤kids are asleep; I can’t stand waking them ⁢up and ‍dragging them to the ER.”

My frustration grew stronger. “Sarah,” I​ replied sharply, “you know your dad has back ⁤problems! He ⁢can’t be running‍ after toddlers⁢ all night long! ​What about your husband?” She reminded me that ⁣he was out ‌of town for ‍work; her

My patience was running out fast. “Well that’s not our ⁤issue,” I shot ⁢back⁣ at her. “You decided to‍ have three kids; now figure out how to‍ handle ‌them.”

A thick silence hung before Sarah spoke ‍again⁤ softly.
“I can’t believe you’re ‍doing ‌this,” she said ‍quietly; hurt clear in her voice. “I’ve never asked anything like this before.” “Oh come on don’t be so overdramatic,” I snapped back as my annoyance took over me again.”You’re ​an adult ‌now! Deal with ‍your own problems!”

Just then my husband overheard us and jumped in saying: ⁢”For goodness sake let me talk to her,” reaching for the phone without waiting for me to respond.I was shocked.”Don’t even think about⁤ watching‌ those kids!”I yelled.”Your back won’t make it!”

To my surprise he ignored what I’d said ⁣& talked calmly with Sarah instead.”Sweetheart don’t worry” he assured her.”I’m coming over right now.You get yourself ‍ready for the hospital.”

Anger surged through ​me​ when he hung‌ up.I confronted him‍ immediately.”How could you ​do that?”I demanded angrily.”You know those kids are too much!”

He looked⁤ at me disappointedly.”How could you ‍turn away our ​daughter when‌ she needs us?”he‌ asked⁢ sadly.”This isn’t like⁢ you.”

As he left towards Sarah’s place,I felt alone surrounded ‍by anger & guilt swirling‌ inside of me.The next morning⁤ brought news that​ Sarah had emergency surgery ⁤due complications after childbirth.She is recovering but​ won’t talk to me.My husband is upset too & even my son called expressing his disappointment.

Now I’m ​feeling crushed by what I’ve​ done.I’m ‍filled with regret wondering if I’ve made a huge mistake.Was it ⁤wrong ofme?