“Our Moms Expect Us to Be Their Personal Assistants: They Compete to Call Us and Always Demand Something”

Our Moms Expect Us to Be Their Personal Assistants: They Compete to Call Us and Always Demand Something

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, balancing work, family, and personal time is already a challenge. But for Sarah and Mike, a young couple living in the suburbs of Chicago, the struggle is compounded by the constant demands of their mothers. Both their moms, Linda and Carol, seem to be in a never-ending competition to call them and ask for favors, leaving Sarah and Mike feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated.

Linda, Sarah’s mom, is a retired school teacher who lives alone. She has always been independent but has recently started relying heavily on Sarah for various tasks. Whether it’s fixing her computer, running errands, or even just keeping her company, Linda expects Sarah to drop everything and come to her aid. “I raised you, didn’t I?” she often reminds Sarah, as if that justifies her constant demands.

On the other hand, Carol, Mike’s mom, is a widow who lives a few miles away. She has a knack for calling at the most inconvenient times, usually when Mike is in the middle of an important work meeting or when Sarah is trying to put their toddler to bed. Carol’s requests range from needing help with her garden to wanting company for her doctor’s appointments. “You know how lonely it gets,” she says, guilt-tripping Mike into compliance.

The situation has become so intense that Sarah and Mike have started dreading their phones ringing. They know that each call will bring another request, another task added to their already full plates. The worst part is that Linda and Carol seem to be in a silent competition with each other, each trying to outdo the other in terms of how much they can demand from their children.

One Saturday morning, Sarah and Mike decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with their moms. They invited Linda and Carol over for brunch, hoping to address the issue calmly and find a solution that would work for everyone. As they sat down at the dining table, Sarah took a deep breath and began.

“Mom, Carol, we need to talk about something important,” she started. “We love you both very much, but lately, it feels like we’re being pulled in too many directions. We want to help you, but we also need time for ourselves and our family.”

Linda immediately looked offended. “Are you saying I’m a burden?” she snapped.

“No, Mom,” Sarah replied gently. “We’re just asking for a little understanding. We can’t do everything all the time.”

Carol chimed in, “Well, if you can’t help your own mother, who will? I don’t have anyone else.”

The conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument. Linda accused Sarah of being ungrateful, while Carol insisted that Mike was neglecting his duties as a son. The brunch ended with both moms storming out of the house, leaving Sarah and Mike feeling even more stressed and helpless.

In the weeks that followed, the situation only worsened. Linda and Carol stopped speaking to each other entirely but continued to bombard Sarah and Mike with requests. The couple tried setting boundaries, but their moms either ignored them or found ways to manipulate them into compliance.

One evening, after a particularly exhausting day of juggling work and parental demands, Sarah broke down in tears. “I can’t do this anymore,” she sobbed. “It’s like we’re their personal assistants, not their children.”

Mike hugged her tightly. “I know,” he said softly. “But what can we do? They won’t listen.”

As time went on, the strain took its toll on Sarah and Mike’s relationship. They found themselves arguing more frequently, snapping at each other over trivial matters. The joy they once found in each other’s company was slowly being eroded by the relentless demands of their mothers.

In the end, there was no happy resolution. Linda and Carol continued their competition for attention and assistance, oblivious to the damage they were causing. Sarah and Mike did their best to cope but couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped in an endless cycle of obligation and guilt.