Daryle Serrant | AI Systems

By 36, I thought I'd be the one sending money to my mom. Recently, she offered to send money to me.

For years, I had a particular picture of what my life in tech would eventually look like.

I'd be making well over six figures, have my own place, have plenty of disposable income, and be financially comfortable enough to support my mom if the need arises.

My life at 36 doesn't look like that.

Recently, my mom called and told me she wanted to send me some money to help me.

My immediate reaction was, "You don't have to do that." Part of me didn't want to accept it. This wasn't how I thought things were supposed to work by now. I was supposed to be helping her.

But after sitting with it, I started seeing the situation differently. I probably could have managed without her help. But she wasn't being forced to give me anything. She wanted to.

This was one of the ways my mom chose to support me and express her love. I realized that by refusing someone's contribution simply because it didn't arrive in the form I wanted, I might also be denying them the opportunity to give.

I've spent a lot of my life associating success with becoming the person who has enough to give. I still want to reach a point where I'm able to do more for her financially. But I'm beginning to understand that receiving matters too.

Accepting someone's support doesn't diminish my ability to eventually give back. Sometimes accepting love means allowing someone to give it in the way they know how.

#storytellingcontentchallenge #expectationvsreality #family #motherandson #thirties