I’m Kenneth, a retired school principal facing the crossroads of aging. Selling my home to move into assisted living, I wrestle with my decision not to financially support my daughter, who I believe could—and should—stand on her own. My journey is tangled with guilt, hope, and the ache of family conflict as I confront what it means to care for myself, and for her, in America today.
We tried to stay financially independent and rely on our own efforts, but my husband’s mother often imposed her assistance, only to remind us of it repeatedly.
“Don’t expect any help from us, make your own way!” – those were the words of my mother-in-law, who owns two properties. She lives in one with her husband, while the other is rented out. That was our reality when we got married. Young and somewhat naive, we hoped for some assistance with housing. But life has its twists. The stance of my husband’s parents was clear. Since we decided to
