In their family, everyone was used to seeing Grandma Katya as a gentle, conflict-free person who was ready to sacrifice herself for the well-being of her children and grandchildren. Her sons—Lyosha and Yury—had long since started their own families and lived separately, but they regularly sent their children to visit Grandma. No one even doubted that she would unconditionally take care of the little ones, entertain them, treat them to sweets, and generously give them pocket money.
However, everything changed on a cold spring day when Grandma Katya gathered the whole family and, smiling, announced:
“Dear ones, I have something important to tell you. I receive a pension, and I’ve decided to spend it exclusively on myself.”
A deathly silence fell in the spacious living room. Everyone exchanged puzzled glances: “On yourself?!” They couldn’t believe that Grandma—who had always saved money and helped everyone—could say such a thing. After all, she had always given most of her funds to her children and grandchildren, paying for extracurriculars, textbooks, and buying gifts…
“Grandma, you’re joking, right?” asked Anya, her eighteen-year-old granddaughter who was in college. It was Grandma who paid for her bus pass and skill-up courses.
“Yeah, Grandma,” Kostya chimed in. He was a vocational student dreaming of becoming an auto mechanic. “What do you mean, ‘on yourself’?”
Her sons also looked at their mother in confusion. The eldest, Lyosha, cleared his throat:
“Mom, what about helping us, your children? You’ve always been by our side, supporting us with the grandkids…”
Grandma Katya, a short woman with smile lines around her lively eyes, raised her eyebrows and answered firmly:
“My dears, I’ve worked all my life, saved money, and have always put you first—and I don’t regret it one bit. But now I want to live a little for myself. I have hobbies, I have dreams. This is my pension, which I earned honestly!”
“But…” Yury, the younger son, began, “you’ve always said a family should help each other.”
“Of course, help each other!” Grandma agreed. “But that doesn’t mean my savings automatically become a common fund. You never asked how I myself would like to manage my money. All I heard was, ‘Mom, give me this,’ ‘Mom, help with that.’ Enough.”
Her voice rang with determination. The daughters-in-law, Irina and Natalya, exchanged flustered looks, unsure what to say. Grandma then took out a small piece of paper:
“Here is my list of goals: this summer, I want to go to a health resort, buy a new phone, and learn how to use WhatsApp. I also plan to update my wardrobe—it’s been ten years since I got a new coat. These plans are my top priority now. And I’m not going to worry if someone gets upset.”
Yury broke the silence, putting his cup on the table:
“Mom, what about us? You know Natasha and I have a mortgage; finances are tight. We were counting on you to watch the little ones this summer so we wouldn’t have to hire a nanny—and at least partially cover some expenses…”
“I’m not refusing to watch my grandchildren,” Grandma corrected him, “but only at my own pace. And I’m not going to give up half my pension for your loans anymore. You’re young, healthy—figure it out yourselves.”
“What?!” Yury frowned. “But you’ve always said the family should stick together.”
“Sticking together doesn’t mean constantly acting as your financial sponsor,” Grandma responded gently but firmly. “I’m sixty-nine years old, and I want a couple of years to live the way I want, while I still have my health.”
Lyosha, the older son, was obviously stunned. He had never expected such resolve from his usually compliant mother:
“Mom… Why do you need that health resort? You’re fine at home. We can provide everything you need.”
“‘Provide everything?’” Grandma snorted. “You’re barely making ends meet yourselves. I specifically want to go to a resort with treatments, rest, and a chance to meet other retirees. That’s what I want.”
Anya and Kostya, the grandchildren, silently watched what was happening. Anya began to understand: “Grandma spent her whole life sacrificing herself for us. Maybe she really has earned a bit of time for herself?” But she chose to remain quiet, seeing her parents’ discontent.
The next day, when Anya was alone with Grandma, she asked:
“Grandma, why did you decide to assert your rights now? What caused this ‘breakthrough’?”
Grandma smiled, took her granddaughter by the hand, and led her to her room. On a small table lay a pile of photographs—young Katya with her husband, then with her children. She had raised two sons on her own after her husband passed away early, worked as an accountant, and put almost all her earnings into their education and other needs.
“You see, dear, I’ve been thinking this way for a while. I helped renovate, bought strollers for your babies, paid for celebrations… That was wonderful; I don’t regret it. But one day, I realized I had no time or energy left for myself. And soon old age will come, yet I haven’t truly lived for myself…”
“Don’t talk about old age,” Anya grimaced.
“All right, I won’t,” Grandma nodded. “But I decided it’s time for my sons to stand on their own two feet while I enjoy a few years of freedom without always wondering who else needs my money. And my pension isn’t large enough to support two households anyway.”
“I understand…” Anya said quietly, sitting down on a chair. “You’re probably right. It’s just that Dad and Uncle are used to the old ways…”
“Well, let them get unused to it,” Grandma said firmly. “I love them, but I’m not going to dance to their tune.”
Anya suddenly smiled:
“Grandma, I support you. If needed, I can talk to Dad so he won’t be upset.”
Grandma breathed a sigh of relief—at least someone understood her.
Her sons and their wives reacted differently:
Irina, Yury’s wife, who had seen Grandma Katya as the perfect helper always handing out money for the kids’ gifts, now complained: “Your mother’s making things up. Maybe we should take her to a psychologist?”
Natalya, Lyosha’s wife, was more tolerant but still surprised: “Why does she suddenly need a health resort? Did someone put her up to this idea?”
Lyosha and Yury organized a family meeting at Lyosha’s house, and they invited Grandma. She already sensed it wouldn’t be an easy talk.
“Ma,” Lyosha began when everyone was gathered, “we want to figure out what’s going on. You’ve always supported our family unity…”
“And I still do,” Grandma interrupted. “But remember how many times you renovated your homes, and I gave you my last savings? When Yury was paying off his car loan, I gave him almost my entire pension. Have I ever once asked you for help? No.”
“But that was out of love,” Yury tried an emotional appeal. “And besides, we really did need help back then. You yourself said you were ready…”
“I did, because I thought that was the right thing at the time. But now I realize I also deserve some joy in life. All this time, I’ve been fighting for your comfort, forgetting my own needs. I finally want to start taking care of myself.”
“Taking care of yourself?” Irina (Yury’s wife) asked with a sarcastic smile. “You’ll be seventy soon. So what exactly are you planning?”
“I’m not seventy yet,” Grandma Katya answered with dignity. “And why should age be a limitation? Many people my age travel, go for treatments, socialize. I feel healthy and alive. Why shouldn’t I use my pension for my own enjoyment?”
“Then who’s going to spend on the children?” Yury grumbled.
“You, as their parents,” Grandma replied firmly. “If you don’t like it, I’m sorry, but I don’t owe you anything.”
The room fell silent, as though the air had turned cold. Natalya tensed, and Lyosha clenched his teeth to keep from saying something he shouldn’t.
“All right,” he finally said. “But, Mom, don’t be upset if we stop inviting you to our family events. If you’re saying you don’t care…”
“I’m saying I have the right to spend my money as I see fit. As for being upset—that’s your choice. I love all of you, but I’m a person, not a bottomless wallet.”
With those words, Grandma stood up:
“Excuse me, I have to go. I’ve booked a place at Lesnaya Zdravnitsa for June. I’m going to treat my back, and then maybe I’ll head to the sea. If I feel like it, I’ll invite you. If not, I’ll go alone.”
She gathered her small purse and left, leaving her relatives stunned.
A month went by. Grandma continued to keep most of her pension for herself. In fact, her income was modest—only 25,000 rubles. But that was enough to buy a few things, pay for the resort (some of it came from old savings), and still set aside a little. Meanwhile, family members who were used to receiving “a couple thousand” every month were now left without that support and began to complain:
Yury grumbled to his wife: “Without Mom’s help, we can’t afford the kids’ summer camp. I’ll have to find additional income.”
Lyosha had to take on weekend jobs to pay for his son’s sports club.
The grandchildren were surprised: “Grandma’s not giving us pocket money anymore. She says to earn our own. Maybe I’ll find a side job…” Though some, like Anya, understood her and tried to be supportive.
When summer arrived, Grandma Katya really did go to the Lesnaya Zdravnitsa resort. She started sharing photos on WhatsApp (her granddaughter helped her learn how) of her walks in the park, medical treatments, and mineral water sessions—surprising many of her relatives. “Is she really enjoying herself?” they wondered, as they’d always pictured Grandma at home, baking pies and waiting to be asked for help.
But Grandma, on the contrary, was transformed. She made new friends, did morning exercises, consulted doctors, and even signed up for a massage course. “For the first time, I’m living for myself,” she told a friend on the phone. “I feel such lightness, as though I’ve achieved something important.”
Two weeks later, when she returned home, she found her two sons in her kitchen. They had arrived unannounced, clearly intending to have a serious conversation.
“Hi, Mom,” Lyosha said when she came in with her suitcase. “How was it?”
She set down her suitcase:
“Wonderful. Treatments, fresh air—I’m happy.”
“We…” Yury began with a sigh, “well, Mom, my salary’s been delayed. We’re short on money again…”
“Yes,” Lyosha added. “And the cost of the children’s summer camp went up. Maybe you could help out, just this once?”
Grandma took off her sandals and walked into the room:
“My dears… I know you’re having difficulties. But you’re no longer kids. When I said I would spend my pension on myself, it wasn’t a passing fancy. I need money too—I’ve signed up for fitness classes, utilities are more expensive now.”
“You’re really refusing?” Lyosha was surprised, as though he still believed that “Mom would have mercy like always.”
“Son,” she said gently, “I’m not refusing because I don’t love you. It’s because you have to solve your own problems. I’ve already spent so much time, effort, and money on your well-being. I hope you understand: this is my pension, and I want to spend it on myself.”
Yury began pacing the kitchen nervously:
“But, Mom, don’t you feel sorry for the grandchildren?”
“I love them very much,” she sighed. “But let their parents find solutions—side jobs, discounts. It’s not like I’m rolling in luxury and refusing to share millions; I have a modest pension. And I want to feel that I can make my own choices at this age instead of giving away every last ruble.”
The sons glanced at each other. Their displeasure was obvious, but Grandma stood firm, for the first time not softening her tone.
“Fine,” Lyosha finally said in a conciliatory voice. “If that’s what you’ve decided… We’ve already started looking for new options. Natalya’s taking on private work, and I’m doing extra shifts with my car. Maybe it is time we learned to manage on our own.”
“Of course,” Grandma nodded with a smile. “It’s time. And I’m always ready to support you with advice or occasionally watch the kids, but financially—sorry, no. I’ll be seventy soon.”
“Well, not that soon,” Yury smiled, and the tension eased a bit. “All right… I hear you.”
It seemed some of their resentment subsided as they began to realize that “Mom doesn’t want to be the eternal martyr anymore.” They didn’t resolve everything at once, but they accepted her decision.
By the end of the summer, the grandchildren were used to Grandma no longer being their “sponsor,” though she still gave small gifts—pretty scarves for the girls, books for the boys. Now these gifts were given by her own choice, not because of parental demands. And, oddly enough, the kids began to value them more. They understood that Grandma wasn’t required to give them anything; she did it purely out of affection.
Anya, who had entered college, wanted to ask Grandma for a new smartphone but decided to work over the summer break. When she earned the money on her own, she felt proud. “Maybe this is for the best,” she thought, genuinely thanking Grandma for not letting everyone “take advantage.”
In September, Grandma Katya planned another trip—an organized bus tour along the Volga. While packing, she called Anya over to help her book tickets online.
“See?” Grandma said, printing out her itinerary. “If I kept handing over my whole pension, I wouldn’t have money for any travel. Now I get to decide for myself.”
Anya smiled:
“That’s great, Grandma—go and enjoy yourself!”
“Thank you, my dear. I’m glad you all are starting to see that I’m not anti-family. I just have the right to live my own life.”
She settled onto the couch with a cup of tea and quietly repeated the words she’d made into her motto:
“This is my pension, and I’m spending it on myself.”
By now the relatives had begun to accept this as reality, although at first they’d been shocked. Over time, they realized that Grandma Katya deserved the right to choose how to spend her golden years. It was a lesson for everyone: respect a person’s boundaries, even if they’re older—especially if they still have dreams and plans for their life.
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