“I Planned to Relax During My Visit to My Son’s City Home, But Ended Up Cleaning: Robert and Ella Didn’t Even Thank Me”

Living in a small town has its charms, but it also means that visits to the city are rare and often filled with anticipation. My son Robert and his wife Ella got married last year, and I hadn’t had the chance to visit them since their wedding. This year, I decided to take a break from my usual routine of gardening and household chores to spend some time with them in their city apartment. I was looking forward to a relaxing visit, but things didn’t go as planned.

When I arrived at their apartment, I was greeted with warm hugs and smiles. Robert and Ella seemed genuinely happy to see me, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. The first evening was pleasant; we had dinner together, chatted about life, and caught up on all the little things we had missed over the past year. I went to bed that night feeling content and excited for the days ahead.

The next morning, however, things took a different turn. I woke up early, as I always do, and decided to make myself a cup of coffee. As I walked into the kitchen, I was taken aback by the mess. Dirty dishes were piled up in the sink, crumbs littered the countertops, and the trash can was overflowing. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. I had hoped for a relaxing visit, not one filled with chores.

I decided to clean up the kitchen before Robert and Ella woke up. It took me a good hour to get everything in order, but I didn’t mind too much. I figured it was just a one-time thing. However, as the days went by, it became clear that this was not an isolated incident. Every morning, I found myself cleaning up after them—washing dishes, taking out the trash, vacuuming the floors, and even doing their laundry.

Robert and Ella both worked long hours, and I understood that they were busy. But it felt like they were taking advantage of my presence. They never once thanked me for my efforts or acknowledged the work I was doing. Instead, they seemed to expect it. Ella would leave notes asking me to pick up groceries or run errands, and Robert would casually mention that the bathroom needed cleaning.

I tried to talk to them about it one evening over dinner. I gently brought up the fact that I had come to visit them for a break and that I was feeling overwhelmed by all the chores. They listened politely but didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of what I was saying. Robert shrugged it off, saying that they were just too busy to keep up with everything, and Ella nodded in agreement.

Feeling unheard and unappreciated, I decided to cut my visit short. On my last day there, I packed my bags early in the morning and left a note on the kitchen table explaining why I was leaving. I didn’t have the heart to confront them face-to-face again.

As I boarded the bus back to my small town, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of sadness. I had looked forward to this visit for so long, hoping for some quality time with my son and his wife. Instead, I felt like an unpaid maid who wasn’t even worthy of a simple thank you.

Back home, as I returned to my familiar routine of gardening and household chores, I couldn’t shake off the disappointment. It wasn’t just about the cleaning; it was about feeling valued and appreciated by my own family. Robert and Ella’s lack of gratitude had left a lasting impact on me.

In the end, my visit to the city was far from the relaxing break I had envisioned. It served as a harsh reminder that sometimes, even those closest to us can take us for granted.