My mom calls every Sunday.

Asks if I’m saving enough.
Asks why I haven’t bought a house yet.
Asks when I’m giving her grandkids.
I don’t tell her daycare costs more than her first mortgage.
I don’t tell her my student loans cost more than her college tuition total.
I don’t tell her I’ve saved for 4 years and still can’t touch a down payment.
I don’t tell her my health insurance costs $430 a month and still left me with a $4,000 bill last year.
I don’t tell her I’m exhausted in a way sleep doesn’t fix.
I just say “I’m working on it mom.”
And she says “you just need to be more disciplined.” and I say “you’re right.”
Because how do you explain to someone that the world they built their advice on doesn’t exist anymore.
How do you tell your mom that following her exact footsteps leads somewhere completely different now.
You don’t. You just say “I’m working on it.”
And pass the potatoes.