“Earning $900 a Month, I Give $500 to My Youngest Daughter Savannah, $50 to My Eldest, Ellie. Recently, I Noticed Something”

Living in a small, bustling town in the Midwest, I, Aria, have always been the kind of person who puts family first. Years ago, when Joe, my then-husband, decided that he wanted to “find himself” and pursue his own life away from family responsibilities, I was left to support our two daughters, Ellie and Savannah, on my own.

I took up a job at a local grocery store, and though it pays only $900 a month, it has been enough to scrape by. Out of this, I’ve always made sure to send $500 to Savannah, who is studying at a community college in a nearby city, and $50 to Ellie, who moved across the country to try her luck in the arts. The rest of the money goes to covering my modest living expenses.

Despite the financial strain, I’ve never regretted my decisions. Savannah is thriving in her studies, and Ellie, though struggling, has never lost her passion for painting. However, the constant worry about money has been a heavy burden to bear.

Recently, something changed. It was a regular evening, and I was sorting through old boxes in the attic when I stumbled upon a collection of Ellie’s early artwork. The paintings were vibrant and full of life, and an idea struck me. What if I could sell some of these paintings at the local market?

With Ellie’s permission, I set up a small stall the following weekend. To my surprise, her paintings were a hit. People were drawn to her unique style, and by the end of the day, I had sold nearly all the paintings, making more than I would in a month at the grocery store.

The success at the market made me realize the potential Ellie’s art had. We decided to open a small online store together. I managed the sales and shipments, while Ellie continued to supply her beautiful artworks. Within a few months, our little business started to flourish. We were not only able to cover our living expenses more comfortably, but we also saved enough to visit Savannah more frequently, who had started to contribute with graphic designs for promotional materials.

One sunny afternoon, as I was packaging a particularly beautiful painting destined for a buyer in another state, I received a call from Savannah. She had just been offered a full scholarship for her final year at college due to her excellent academic performance. Tears of joy and relief streamed down my face as I realized that all the hardships were finally paying off.

Months later, as I watched Ellie set up her own art gallery with the profits we had made, and Savannah graduate with honors, I felt a profound sense of pride and accomplishment. Joe, hearing of our success, reached out and reconnected with us. He expressed his regret and admiration for what we had achieved. As we all sat together at Ellie’s gallery opening, laughing and sharing stories, I realized that our little family had not just survived; we had thrived.