I never thought I’d question my mother’s priorities—until I saw the $1,800 receipt for a designer dress. My son is starting college, and every penny helps, yet she spent that money on herself.

Growing up, she sacrificed everything for us. She worked extra shifts, wore the same coat for years, always putting family first. So why now?

When I asked, she simply said, “For seventy years, I’ve given everything to my children. Just once, I wanted something for me.”

I was frustrated but then realized—she had earned this. After a lifetime of selflessness, she wasn’t being selfish. She was reminding herself she was more than just a mother. And maybe, that was okay.