After A Month Of Showering My Mother With Love ... -

That’s when I realized my mistake. I had mistaken martyrdom for love .

If you are currently drowning in the act of loving a parent, put down the guilt. You are allowed to be a human, not a hero. The greatest gift you can give your mother isn't your exhaustion—it's your presence. And you can't be present if you're passed out on the floor. After a month of showering my mother with love ...

So today, we aren't doing anything grand. We’re drinking tea in silence. And for the first time in a month, I actually feel the love—instead of just the effort. That’s when I realized my mistake

I drove her to every appointment, even the ones she insisted she could cancel. I cooked her favorite childhood meals (her mom’s chicken soup recipe, which takes three hours). I listened to the same stories about her neighbor’s cat for the 40th time without checking my phone. I bought her little gifts—a soft scarf, a puzzle book, a heated blanket. You are allowed to be a human, not a hero