Hey you guys. So I’m 25 years old and I’m about to move into my first place. As excited as I am there’s this heavy guilt that’s been bugging me.

Back story: My mom hasn’t been employed since I was 7, due to an injury at work. My dad took care of us financially for everything until he lost his job in 2017. In 2018, we lost our home and were separated. My sister and I moved in with our close relatives and my mom and dad stayed in a motel. Then I’m 2019, my father passed away of Cancer. So ever since 2019, it’s just been me, my mom, and my sister, we’re all each other have.

Since 2019, I have worked and hustled my butt off, often times working 2 jobs and going to school all at the same time. And countless other things. I’ve worked really hard for where I am today.

I love my mother I really do with everything in me. She’s my light in darkness and my rock. It’s just that I need space.. space to grow, space to mess up, space to fail, without her, or anybody else for that matter being there. I feel terrible about this though as we’ve been separated for a long time, and I know she would much rather live with me than where she’s living right now. (She’s housed, just not with me, & maybe not the best circumstances) I’ve lived with people my whole life and have barely even had my own room. I just want to be an adult on my own, and come home to my place and do cartwheels or whatever I please because it’s my place.

The selfish side of me feels that this isn’t fair. I’m not saying that I don’t want to take care of my mom but not right now. I’m only 25 and have so much to explore, & experience. She didn’t have to do this at 25, so this just feels unfair….

Please be kind with your replies as this is a sensitive topic for me