Recently, my daughter said that we should not only pay for her wedding but also buy an apartment for her and her husband. My husband and I have always tried to support her, but such a demand took us by surprise.
My husband and I have some small savings that are quite important to us, but Kristyna was dissatisfied:
“What kind of money is that? It’s not even enough for a proper wedding. And you still have to buy us an apartment!”
I was confused:
“Where are we supposed to get that kind of money?”
And then she said that she simply didn’t understand us:
“Find the money! You should have been thinking about my future from the very beginning. If you can’t, sell the house!”
Her words hurt us deeply. We always believed that we were doing everything for her happiness, but now it seemed like something had gone wrong. My husband and I decided that it was time to teach her an important lesson.
My husband and I got married at the age of 23. At first, we lived with my parents in the countryside, and when we turned 35, we built our own house. Our parents would always ask, “When will you make us happy with grandchildren?” Of course, we dreamed of having children, but for a long time, we couldn’t. It wasn’t until I was 39 that our long-awaited daughter, Kristyna, was born.
We have always tried to do everything for her and have given her the best opportunities. Kristyna did well in school, got into university, and is now finishing her third year. Recently, she met a boy and started talking about marriage. Of course, as parents, we are happy for her, but when she demanded that we pay for the wedding and buy her an apartment, we started to wonder: is this really right?
We explained to Kristyna that we simply couldn’t fulfill all her wishes. If she wants a beautiful wedding and her own apartment, she should earn it herself. We gave her an education—she is smart and ambitious, and we are sure she will manage on her own.
Kristyna, of course, was shocked by our decision. She left without saying a word. Months passed, and we didn’t try to reach out to her. Then, one day, she came to see us.
Mom, Dad…,” she said with tenderness in her voice. “I found a job. Of course, it’s not exactly what I dreamed of, but now I understand how hard it is to earn money.”
She walked up to us and hugged us.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong…”
My husband and I smiled. It was heartwarming to see our daughter realize that parental love is not just about financial support but also care, effort, and devotion. Now, she is saving money for her wedding herself, and we are helping her—not because we are obligated to, but because she has become an independent, responsible, and grateful adult.
