“We Left Our Kids with My Mom for a Few Days: But That Night, Our Youngest Called Begging to Come Home Early”

Two years ago, my husband, Mark, received a long-awaited promotion at his job. It was a moment of celebration for our family. We had been renting a small apartment in the suburbs of Chicago for over a decade, and with two growing kids—our eldest, Emily, who had just turned 15, and our youngest, Jake, who was 10 at the time—we felt it was time to make a change.

The promotion came with a significant pay raise, and I, driven by a mix of excitement and intuition, suggested we take out a mortgage and buy our own home. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally have a place we could call our own. We found a beautiful house in a nice neighborhood, and within a few months, we had moved in.

However, the reality of owning a home soon set in. The mortgage payments were higher than we had anticipated, and the maintenance costs started piling up. Mark’s new job demanded more of his time, leaving me to juggle work and the kids’ needs on my own. The stress was overwhelming.

Last weekend, we decided to take a break. We thought it would be a good idea to leave Emily and Jake with my mom for a few days while Mark and I took some time to relax and reconnect. My mom lives about an hour away in a quiet town, and she was more than happy to have the kids over.

We dropped them off on Friday afternoon. Emily seemed excited about spending time with her grandma, but Jake was unusually quiet. I brushed it off as him being tired from school. That evening, Mark and I went out for dinner, trying to enjoy our rare alone time.

But around 9 PM, my phone rang. It was Jake. His voice was shaky as he asked if we could come pick them up early. He said he didn’t feel well and wanted to come home. My heart sank. I could hear the distress in his voice.

We immediately drove to my mom’s house. When we arrived, Jake ran into my arms, tears streaming down his face. Emily looked worried too. My mom explained that Jake had been anxious all evening and couldn’t settle down.

We brought them back home that night. Jake clung to me as we drove back, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty. The next few days were tough. Jake had trouble sleeping and seemed withdrawn. Emily tried to comfort him, but she was clearly affected too.

Mark and I realized that our decision to buy the house had put immense pressure on our family. The financial strain and the demands of Mark’s job had taken a toll on all of us. We had hoped that owning a home would bring stability and happiness, but it had done the opposite.

Now, two years later, we’re still struggling to make ends meet. The mortgage payments are a constant source of stress, and Mark’s job continues to demand more of his time. Jake has developed anxiety issues, and Emily has become more reserved.

Looking back, I wish we had thought things through more carefully before making such a big decision. The impulsive choice to buy a house has left us in a difficult situation, and we’re still trying to find a way out.