“A husband told his wife, I’m heading out with my friends.” She simply replied, “Alright.”
Later on, their son came to his mom and said, “Mom, I got my mock exam results, and they’re not great.” Expecting a lecture, he was taken aback when she calmly said, “That’s okay. If you put in the effort, you’ll get better. If not, you might have to repeat the semester. It’s your choice.”
The next day, their daughter nervously admitted, “Mom, I crashed the car.” Preparing for a reaction, she was surprised when her mom replied calmly, “That’s alright. Just take it to the shop and get it fixed.”
This sudden shift in their usually irritable mom left the family scratching their heads. They all came together and asked, “Is everything okay? Why are you so chill?”
She smiled and said, “I realized it took me a while to understand that everyone is in charge of their own life. My worry, anxiety, and stress don’t fix your problems; they just add to mine. I’ve figured out that I can give advice if you want it, but whether you take it or not is on you. Every choice you make has its own consequences—good or bad—that you have to deal with.
“I’m not responsible for anyone else’s choices. I can only manage myself. My job is to care for you, love you, and support you. Beyond that, it’s up to you to tackle your own challenges and find your happiness. So, I’ve decided to stay calm and let each of you take the reins in your own lives.”
Her words left everyone speechless. From that moment on, the family started to function better, with each person stepping up and owning their actions.