When Love and Obligation Collide Hi. My name is Nancy. I’m thirty-five, a single mom of three — ages seven, three, and a baby barely six months old. Life has never felt easy, but somehow I always managed to keep it from falling apart. My mom, who’s seventy-four, lived with us and helped care for the kids. In return, she stayed here rent-free. It wasn’t perfect, but it was our rhythm — fragile, functional, and full of small unspoken gratitude. Then she fell. A slip in the kitchen two weeks ago changed everything. Since then, she’s been in near-constant pain, barely able to move, suddenly dependent on me for everything. Overnight, our household became a triage unit — feedings, diapers, bills, dishes, and now, her care too. The weight of it all pressed hard against what little energy I had left….CONTINUE READING IN BELOW