My 39-year-old daughter has decided not to get married because she enjoys living with me. I am 65 years old now, having lived nearly an entire life with a marriage that was exhausting. I officially divorced my husband after many years of living together. The truth is that the marriage didn’t bring me happiness; I was like a shadow in the house, living without being respected or having a voice. I had sacrificed so much, giving my all to my husband and children, but in return, he was indifferent, cold, and never understood or cared about my feelings.

For many years, I only knew how to serve meals and take care of everything at home without any true happiness. Then, when I turned 65, I decided to divorce. At that point, I felt relieved, as though I had been freed from those dull, unhappy days. Shortly afterward, my daughter, now 39 years old, invited me to live with her. She said she didn’t want to get married and wanted to stay with me to take care of each other. At first, I thought this suggestion made sense. I had spent my whole life for the family, and now I could enjoy the closeness and care of my daughter. I felt comforted and happier than ever. We moved in together, and our life was full of laughter and warmth. I didn’t need a man to feel content with my current life. My daughter and I shared joyful moments, love, and harmony. I never imagined I could be so happy without a husband by my side.

In the first few months, life with my daughter was an indescribable joy. I felt more at ease than ever before, without the pressure and constraints of a loveless marriage. Every day, my daughter and I cooked, talked, and shared everything about life. I realized that sometimes having just my daughter beside me was enough; I didn’t need any man. Together, we had created a peaceful and happy life.

However, as time went on and the peace stretched, I started to worry about my daughter. At 39, she had passed the age when many women have their own families, husbands, and children. She said she didn’t need to get married and just wanted to live with me, taking care of me in my old age. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her future. If one day I became old and frail, and I was no longer there, what would happen to my daughter? She would be alone, with no one to rely on. My heart sank every time I thought about it.

One evening, after dinner, I sat and watched my daughter cleaning up, and a feeling of unease arose in me. I knew that if I didn’t share my thoughts, I wouldn’t be able to rest.

“Sweetheart, I have something to tell you,” I began, trying to keep my voice calm despite my anxiety.

My daughter stopped what she was doing, looked at me, and sat down next to me. “What is it, mom? You can tell me, I’m listening.”

I sighed, looked into her eyes, and softly said, “You’re not young anymore, have you thought about getting married? I’m afraid that if I’m not around one day, you’ll be alone, with no one by your side.”

My daughter smiled softly, took my hand, and responded, “Mom, you don’t have to worry about me getting married to be happy. I feel happy and comfortable living with you. We can take care of each other, and I don’t need a man to rely on.”

Her words made me feel a little better, but the worry still lingered. I knew she was strong and independent, but my daughter was also just a person, and someday, she would need someone to share her life with, someone to love. I didn’t want her to follow in my footsteps, living in an unhappy marriage. But I also didn’t want her to completely give up on the chance of finding her own happiness.

“I understand what you’re saying, but I’m still worried. Life isn’t always as simple as we think. I don’t want you to live your whole life only with me. When I grow old, what will happen to you? I want you to find a good man, someone who will love you, so you have a companion for the rest of your life. I don’t want you to make the same mistake I made, but I also don’t want you to live in loneliness forever.” I tried to convince her.

She was silent, seemingly thinking deeply about what I had said. After a long pause, she gently replied, “Mom, I understand that you’re worried about me. But right now, I really don’t want to get married. I’m happy with the way things are. We have each other, and that’s enough for me. I don’t want to force myself into a marriage just because I’m afraid of being alone in the future.”

Hearing those words, I felt both compassion and sadness. I understood that my daughter had been through enough pain and had witnessed everything I endured over the years. She didn’t want to enter a marriage that she thought would only bring sorrow and disappointment. But how could I feel at peace knowing my daughter had completely given up on the hope of love, of finding a life partner? I wanted her to be truly happy, not just living in loneliness.

In the days that followed, I thought a lot. I understood that my daughter had chosen her own path, and I had to respect her decision. But at the same time, I had to help her understand that life could be even more beautiful if she opened her heart to love. Our life together was peaceful, but I couldn’t stop worrying about the future. I wasn’t sure whether I could convince her to change her mind, but I only hoped that one day she would find a truly good man, someone she could trust and love.

And no matter what happened, I would always be there for her, always hoping she would find joy and happiness in life, whether that happiness came from love or simply from living a peaceful life with her mother.