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My Daughter In Law Said, “Cheryl, Eat the Leftovers.” I Took My Prime Rib and Left—Then Her Card... — Transcript

by Blood And Boundaries · 4,224 words · 687 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

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0:00My daughter in law pointed a manicured
0:02finger at the refrigerator and said,
0:04"Sheryl, eat the leftovers in there.
0:08This food is for my family."
0:10I was standing in the middle of my son's
0:12kitchen with a 12-lb prime rib in my
0:15oven mitts, still warm, still smelling
0:19of garlic and rosemary.
0:21I had been up since 5:00 that morning.
0:23I'd rubbed the roast down the night
0:25before with salt and cracked pepper, the
0:28way my late husband Glenn liked it, and
0:31I'd started it low and slow by late
0:33morning, so it would be a perfect medium
0:36rare by 4:00.
0:38Jared had asked for it himself. He'd
0:40called on Wednesday and said, "Mom, can
0:43you make the prime rib Saturday?
0:46Lauren's parents are coming." I assumed
0:49that meant I'd be sitting with them.
0:51When I walked through the front door,
0:53the dining room looked like a magazine
0:55spread.
0:56White tablecloth, the good China,
0:59crystal goblets, tall candles already
1:02lit in broad daylight. Lauren's mother,
1:05Donna, sat at one end in a pearl
1:08necklace. Her father, Wayne, was on her
1:11left, swirling a glass of red wine that
1:14I could have told you cost more than my
1:16weekly groceries because I had bought
1:18it.
1:19It was on my card, delivered to their
1:21porch on Thursday, a favor Jared asked
1:25me to cover until payday.
1:27Before I tell you the rest, I'd love to
1:30know where you're listening from. Write
1:33it in the comments for me.
1:35I counted the place settings, five.
1:38Lauren, Jared, Donna, Wayne, and their
1:40daughter Ella. No sixth plate.
1:43Then Lauren came around the kitchen
1:45island, looked at the roasting pan, and
1:48pointed at the fridge.
1:50I looked at it.
1:52Through the glass shelf, I could see a
1:54takeout container of lo mein, three or
1:57four days old, and half a casserole dish
2:01of something orange and congealed.
2:03Then I looked at Lauren, who was already
2:06holding out her hands for my pan, so she
2:08could carry it in and let her parents
2:10believe she'd made it.
2:12My son stood by the hallway with his
2:14hands in his pockets, staring at the
2:17grain of the hardwood floor.
2:19He shifted his weight.
2:21He rubbed the back of his neck.
2:23He did not look at me, and he did not
2:25say a single word.
2:27I am 68 years old. I buried my husband
2:3111 years ago.
2:33I paid off a 30-year mortgage and raised
2:35a boy on a school secretary's salary.
2:39I wasn't going to scream in a kitchen,
2:41and I wasn't going to cry in front of
2:43Donna and Wayne. I also wasn't going to
2:46stand there and beg for a chair at a
2:48table I had just catered.
2:51"I see," I said.
2:53I pulled the pan back against my chest.
2:56I turned around, walked out through the
2:58side door, and set the roast on the
3:00passenger seat of my Buick, buckling the
3:03seatbelt over the foil like it was a
3:05person.
3:07By the time I backed out of the
3:09driveway, my phone was buzzing in the
3:12cup holder.
3:13A text from Jared. Mom, where are you
3:15going?
3:16Lauren's parents are hungry. Come back.
3:19I turned the wheel toward home and
3:22didn't answer.
3:23The whole car smelled like rosemary, and
3:26for the first few miles it felt almost
3:29nice. Then it started to feel like an
3:31accusation. That smell was five years of
3:34Saturdays, and I had let every one of
3:37them slide.
3:39Jared is my only child.
3:41After Glenn died, he became the center
3:43of my life, and I'll admit I handled him
3:46the way a lot of widows handle their
3:48only son. I made things easy.
3:52When he married Lauren, I welcomed her
3:54like a daughter. She was polished and
3:56pretty, with a way of laughing at the
3:58right moments. It took me a couple of
4:01years to see that Lauren measured people
4:03by what they could do for her.
4:06Once I figured out what I could do, I
4:08became very useful and very invisible.
4:12I pulled into my own driveway, carried
4:15that pan into my own quiet kitchen, and
4:17set it on the counter. I cut a thick
4:20slice from the end, the crusty piece
4:22everybody fights over, and poured myself
4:25a glass of Cabernet. Then I sat down and
4:29did what I should have done years ago. I
4:31added it all up.
4:33I was Ella's grandmother, yes, but I was
4:36also her after-school pickup three days
4:38a week, free of charge. I was the
4:41weekend cook, the holiday cook, the one
4:44who showed up with casseroles when
4:46Lauren was overwhelmed, and I was the
4:49safety net.
4:50I thought about the car insurance on two
4:53vehicles, which came out of my checking
4:55account every 6 months, because
4:58Jared once told me
5:00their rates were crazy,
5:02and I said I'd help until they got back
5:04on their feet.
5:05That was 4 years ago. I thought about
5:08the family cell phone plan, drafted on
5:11the 14th of every month with my name on
5:14the account.
5:15I thought about Ella's school clothes
5:18and how Lauren had somehow forgotten her
5:20wallet at Target three times in one
5:23fall. I thought about the private school
5:26tuition split that was supposed to be
5:2850/50 and had turned into me paying the
5:31spring semester because the bonus got
5:35delayed. I thought about the $400 a
5:38month I'd quietly slid into Jared's
5:41account for what he called a rough patch
5:45that never ended.
5:46They had a four-bedroom colonial in a
5:49nice suburb of Columbus, two leased SUVs
5:52in the driveway,
5:54and a calendar full of dinner parties.
5:57All of it was built, a little at a time,
6:00on my retirement savings. Jared allowed
6:02it because arguing with Lauren was
6:05harder than taking it from his mother.
6:07As if Lauren demanded it because she
6:10honestly believed she was owed.
6:13I ate every bite of that slice. It was
6:15the best prime rib I've ever made. I
6:18washed my plate, dried it, and put it
6:21away.
6:22Then I walked down the hall to the spare
6:24bedroom where I keep the desktop
6:26computer and turned it on.
6:28I didn't write an angry email. I didn't
6:31draft a speech. I just wanted to close
6:34the bank and I knew exactly where to
6:36start.
6:37I logged into my checking account and
6:40opened the scheduled payments tab.
6:42First, the cell phone plan.
6:45I clicked into the account settings,
6:47selected Jared's line, and Lauren's
6:49line, and removed them as authorized
6:52users. The carrier sent a confirmation.
6:55Their numbers would be suspended in 48
6:58hours unless they set up their own
7:00account.
7:01Next, the auto insurance. I called my
7:05agent's automated line, pressed my way
7:07through the menu, and removed both of
7:09their SUVs from my policy.
7:12I asked that the pro-rated refund be
7:14mailed to me. Then I canceled the
7:17streaming bundle Lauren watched every
7:19night.
7:20The one with all her shows.
7:23It took me 15 minutes. No shouting, no
7:26tears, just a mouse and a quiet house.
7:29Before bed, I stood in the front hall
7:31and looked at my deadbolt.
7:33Lauren had a key to my house. She used
7:36it constantly, letting herself in to
7:39borrow my garden tools, to raid my
7:41pantry, to drop off Ella without
7:43calling.
7:44I had never told her not to.
7:47Monday morning, I drove to the hardware
7:49store on Dublin Road, bought two new
7:51lock sets,
7:53and had both doors changed by noon.
7:56I dropped the old keys in the kitchen
7:58trash.
7:59My phone had been buzzing since Sunday.
8:02Jared, mostly. Mom, why are you being
8:05like this?
8:06Lauren is really stressed. You kind of
8:09owe us an apology for how you left. I
8:11read them all and answered none.
8:14I made a cup of chamomile and sat on my
8:16back porch watching the finches at the
8:18feeder. The strings were cut. The doors
8:21were locked. Now I only had to wait.
8:24It took 3 days.
8:27I was out back pulling crabgrass from my
8:29tomato bed when the phone rang. Jared.
8:32This time I pulled off my gloves and
8:35answered.
8:36Mom.
8:37He sounded out of breath.
8:40Somewhere between confused and scared.
8:43Did something happen with your bank
8:44account? Was it hacked?
8:47Lauren's card got declined at the
8:49grocery store and I just got an email
8:51that our car insurance was canceled.
8:53What is going on?
8:55He still didn't get it.
8:57He honestly thought the universe had
8:59glitched.
9:01My accounts are fine, Jared, I said
9:03dropping a handful of weeds in my
9:05bucket.
9:06I've been doing some financial
9:08housekeeping. I'm on a fixed income now,
9:11so I tightened up my budget.
9:13The line went quiet. I could hear
9:16traffic behind him.
9:17Wait. You canceled our insurance and the
9:20phones? Mom, you've paid those for
9:23years. You can't just drop us.
9:25You're 38 years old, Jared.
9:28You have a good job. Lauren works
9:31part-time at that boutique. You don't
9:34need your mother paying your bills. I'm
9:36sure you'll figure it out.
9:38Lauren is furious.
9:41He lowered his voice as if she might
9:43hear him from the produce aisle.
9:45She had to put half the groceries back
9:47at the register.
9:49Why are you doing this now? Is this
9:51about the roast?
9:53This is about me managing my own money.
9:56What you two eat and who pays for it is
9:58your business.
10:00Just like my money is mine.
10:02Mom, please.
10:04I have to get back to my tomatoes. Have
10:07a good afternoon.
10:09I didn't block him. I just turned the
10:11ringer off. I knew Lauren. When she
10:14heard the news, she wouldn't stop at
10:16yelling at Jared. She would come looking
10:19for me.
10:20The next afternoon, I was in the living
10:22room with a paperback when a car door
10:25slammed in my driveway.
10:27I peeked through the blinds.
10:30Lauren was marching up my walk, her
10:32designer bag swinging off her shoulder
10:34like a weapon, her fists pulled tight.
10:38I stayed on the couch and listened.
10:40Jiggle, scrape, jiggle, jiggle.
10:43She was trying her key in the front
10:45door.
10:46I smiled and turned the page.
10:49Then the pounding started. "Sheryl, open
10:51this door. I know you're in there."
10:54I marked my place, stood, and took my
10:57time walking to the foyer. I unlocked
11:00the new deadbolt and opened the door
11:02just far enough to fill the frame with
11:05my body.
11:06"Good afternoon, Lauren."
11:08She held up her key, her hand trembling.
11:11"You changed the locks? Are you insane?"
11:14"I updated my home security. Is there
11:17something I can help you with?"
11:19"You cut off our phones. You canceled
11:23our insurance." Her suburban polish was
11:25cracking right down the middle.
11:27"Do you know how humiliating it was to
11:30have my card declined at Whole Foods?"
11:33"I imagine it was unpleasant."
11:36"But you and Jared share an account. I
11:39check the balance before you shop next
11:41time."
11:42She crossed her arms and her eyes
11:44narrowed. "This is about the leftovers.
11:47You're being petty, Sheryl.
11:49We're family.
11:51If you don't turn everything back on,
11:53you can forget about sixing Ella. I
11:56won't have my daughter around someone
11:58this toxic and manipulative."
12:00It was the threat she'd used on me
12:02before, always softly,
12:05always when she wanted something. I had
12:07been waiting for it.
12:09"That would be a shame," I said. "But if
12:13I'm not seeing Ella, I suppose there's
12:15no reason for me to mail that check to
12:18the equestrian camp next week.
12:21$2,800 wasn't it?
12:23I hope you can cover that along with
12:25your new insurance premiums."
12:28Her mouth opened. Nothing came out.
12:31I closed the door while she was still
12:33hunting for a comeback, turned the
12:35deadbolt with a very satisfying click,
12:39and went back to my book.
12:41For 2 weeks, I heard nothing. I didn't
12:43text.
12:45I didn't call. I went to water aerobics
12:47at the Y, had lunch with my friend
12:50Joyce, and weeded my garden.
12:52My checking account looked healthier
12:54than it had in years.
12:56Joyce is the one who told me the rest
12:59over coffee at the diner on Maine. Her
13:02niece lives two streets over from Jared.
13:05According to her, Donna and Wayne had
13:07been bragging at the country club about
13:10how well Jared and Lauren were doing.
13:12But on that street, everyone had started
13:15noticing things. A repo notice on one of
13:18the SUVs. Lauren selling a designer
13:21handbag online. The landscaping crew
13:24gone from the lawn. Without my money
13:27padding the corners, the math was
13:29catching up to them. They had a big
13:31mortgage, car leases that were too high,
13:34and credit card balances Lauren had kept
13:37from everyone.
13:38On a rainy Tuesday night, my doorbell
13:40rang. I checked the porch camera. Jared,
13:44alone on the mat, shoulders soaked
13:46through, hands shoved in his jacket
13:48pockets.
13:50I opened the door and stepped aside. He
13:52looked 10 years older.
13:55Dark circles under his eyes, 2 days of
13:57stubble, none of that easy confidence I
14:00used to love.
14:01"Hi, Mom."
14:03"Hello, Jared. Take your wet shoes off,
14:06please."
14:07He followed me to the kitchen. I poured
14:10him a mug of coffee,
14:11and he wrapped both hands around it like
14:14it was a life raft.
14:16"It's really bad," he said to the mug.
14:18"Lauren's angry all the time. The
14:20writing camp called today about the
14:22balance. Our cards are maxed out. We
14:25don't have the deposit for new
14:27insurance."
14:29He finally looked up and his eyes were
14:31wet. "Mom, I need a loan. 5,000 just to
14:35float us till my bonus comes in. I'll
14:38pay you back, I swear."
14:40I took a slow sip of my own coffee.
14:43"No, Jared."
14:45He stared at me.
14:46In 38 years, he had never heard me say
14:49that word to a direct request for help.
14:53"No," he said.
14:55"Mom, I'm begging you. Lauren says
14:57she'll take Ella and move in with her
14:59parents if I don't fix this."
15:02"If Lauren wants to live with her
15:04parents, that's her choice.
15:07But I won't fund a lifestyle you can't
15:09afford.
15:10You stood in your kitchen and let your
15:12wife treat me like hired help in front
15:15of her family.
15:16You watched her point me to a plastic
15:18tub of old noodles while you spent my
15:20money.
15:22The Bank of Mom is closed, honey.
15:25Permanently."
15:26He left that night looking completely
15:29beaten.
15:30I stood at the window until his tail
15:32lights disappeared and I allowed myself
15:35exactly 1 minute of crying.
15:37Then I washed the mugs.
15:39Four days later, on a Saturday
15:41afternoon, the bell rang again.
15:44This time it was Ella, 12 years old,
15:47standing on my porch with a small
15:49backpack. Jared sat in his car at the
15:52end of the driveway. He gave me a small
15:54wave and pulled away.
15:56"Hi, Grandma."
15:58"Hello, sweetheart." I hugged her tight.
16:01"I am so glad you're here."
16:04We baked sugar cookies and watched the
16:06old black and white movies she pretends
16:08to think are boring.
16:10Ella has always been perceptive, much
16:13more than her mother gives her credit
16:14for.
16:16While we were frosting, she said
16:18quietly, "Mom and Dad fight a lot now.
16:21Mom yells about money, and Dad sits out
16:24in the garage. She says you're being
16:26mean to us."
16:28I wiped my hands on a dish towel and
16:31pulled a stool up beside her.
16:33"Ella, I love you very much. Sometimes
16:36grown-ups make hard decisions about
16:38money and respect. It has nothing to do
16:41with you. You are always welcome here,
16:44and you are always safe here."
16:46"I know."
16:47She licked frosting off her thumb. "She
16:50got mad because you took the meat you
16:52cooked.
16:53But I thought that was kind of cool. It
16:55smelled so good.
16:57And Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Donna had
16:59to eat delivery pizza."
17:02I laughed so hard I had to hold the
17:04counter.
17:05Ella grinned. The adults in her life
17:08were miserable,
17:09but she had seen the whole thing
17:11clearly.
17:12Lauren did not appreciate Jared sending
17:14Ella over.
17:16That evening, she drove to my house
17:18herself and leaned on the doorbell until
17:21I opened up.
17:22Ella sensed the weather before I did.
17:26She grabbed her backpack and pressed
17:28herself against the wall.
17:30"Wait in the car, Ella."
17:32Lauren snapped, never taking her eyes
17:34off me. Ella gave me an apologetic
17:36little look and slipped out.
17:39Lauren stepped into my foyer, flushed to
17:41the hairline. "How dare you undermine
17:44me?
17:45I told Jared you weren't allowed near
17:47her until you fixed what you broke."
17:50"Jared is her father," I said. "He has
17:53an equal say in where she goes. And this
17:56is my home, Lauren. Lower your voice or
17:58leave."
17:59She stepped closer, fists clenched. "You
18:03think you're so smart, walking out with
18:06your stupid roast, cutting us off.
18:08You're just trying to control us because
18:10you have nothing else.
18:12You're a sad, lonely woman."
18:15I leaned against the console table,
18:17completely relaxed. "I don't want to
18:19control you. I want the opposite. I want
18:22to be free of you. For 5 years, I paid
18:25for your cars and your phones and your
18:27vacations. I babysat on demand. I cooked
18:30your holidays. And in return, you told
18:34me to eat out of a Tupperware.
18:36"My parents were guests," she said,
18:39though her voice wobbled.
18:41"Then your parents should pay for that
18:43standard. Or you should. But you can't,
18:47can't you? You built a fake life on my
18:49dime, and you resented me for being the
18:52one who provided it.
18:53Now you get to live on your own. Welcome
18:56to the real world."
18:58She sneered, and I could see her reach
19:00for her last card.
19:02"Fine. Then don't expect to come to
19:05Hawaii next month.
19:06We don't want you there."
19:08I smiled. "That won't be a problem."
19:11The Hawaii trip was a sore spot. It was
19:1410 days at a resort on Maui, planned
19:17months earlier.
19:18Lauren had booked the oceanfront suite,
19:21the flights, the snorkeling excursions.
19:25The final payment of $8,000 was due the
19:28following Friday. In years past, I'd
19:31have gotten a sheepish call from Jared a
19:33few days beforehand, asking if I could
19:36help cover the balance because they were
19:39a little short.
19:41I always did. Lauren always posted the
19:43photos with a caption thanking her
19:46amazing husband for the getaway.
19:48Friday came. At 10:00 in the morning, my
19:51phone rang.
19:52"Mom."
19:54Jared sounded wrecked. "The travel agent
19:57says she'll cancel the whole trip at
19:59noon if we don't pay. We don't have it.
20:02Lauren's in the bedroom crying. She
20:04already told her parents and all her
20:06friends. She's humiliated."
20:09"That's a hard lesson in budgeting,
20:10Jared.
20:11You shouldn't book vacations you can't
20:13pay for."
20:15"I know." His voice cracked. "I see it
20:18now. I see what she did, and I see what
20:21I let her do to you. I was a coward. I'm
20:24so sorry I didn't say anything in that
20:25kitchen. Please,
20:27just this once, I'll pay you back. I'll
20:29make it right.
20:31You make it right by standing on your
20:33own two feet.
20:34I'm not bailing you out.
20:36Mom,
20:38what are you even doing with your money?
20:40I looked at the open suitcase on my bed,
20:43a stack of linen blouses folded beside
20:45it.
20:46I'm packing.
20:48Packing for what?
20:51A vacation of my own. 3 weeks, a cruise
20:54around the Mediterranean. Just me. I
20:56sail Sunday.
20:58The line went dead quiet. I could almost
21:01hear him understanding it. The money was
21:03gone. The net was gone. The mother who
21:07handed over her checkbook without a word
21:09was gone for good.
21:11Have a good weekend, Jared, I said,
21:14and hung up.
21:153 days later, I stood on the private
21:18balcony of my cabin with a glass of
21:20champagne, warm wind in my hair, the
21:23coast of Spain sliding by. I felt
21:26lighter than I had in a decade. I hadn't
21:28needed a lawyer. I hadn't needed a
21:30screaming match or a bitter post on
21:33Facebook. I had just taken back the keys
21:36to my own life.
21:37I called Ella from the ship twice, and
21:40both times she told me the same thing.
21:43Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Donna were
21:45coming to my house the Sunday I got
21:47home. Ella didn't know why.
21:50Her voice said she had a guess.
21:53I landed on a Saturday night, slept 10
21:55hours in my own bed, and by Sunday at
21:582:00, I had a pot of coffee brewed and a
22:01lemon pound cake cooling on the counter.
22:04Not for them.
22:06For me. I wasn't going to be caught with
22:08an empty table in my own house ever
22:10again.
22:11The doorbell rang at 3:00 sharp. I
22:14checked the porch camera and then opened
22:16the door.
22:17Wayne stood in front in a pressed blue
22:20blazer holding a white envelope. Donna
22:23was a step behind him, pearls and all,
22:26but she looked smaller than she had at
22:28that dining table. And behind both of
22:30them, with her eyes on my welcome mat,
22:33stood Lauren.
22:34No designer bag, no manicure. Her nails
22:38were cut short and bare.
22:40"Cheryl," Wayne said, "may we come in?
22:42We won't stay long."
22:44"Wipe your feet," I said, and stepped
22:46aside.
22:48They sat in my living room, the three of
22:50them in a row on my couch. The same
22:52couch where I had once turned a page of
22:55my paperback while Lauren rattled my
22:57doorknob. I poured coffee for Wayne and
23:00Donna. I did not pour any for Lauren. I
23:04sat down in my armchair and waited.
23:07Wayne cleared his throat. "Jared told us
23:10everything while you were away.
23:12The car the phones, the tuition, the
23:16trips, five years of it." He turned the
23:19envelope over in his hands. "Donna and I
23:22have spent our whole lives teaching our
23:24daughter that appearances matter. I see
23:26now what that cost somebody else."
23:29Donna's chin trembled. "I ate your roast
23:32beef at Easter two years ago and told my
23:34friends Lauren made it. I knew she
23:37hadn't. I never asked who had."
23:40"I know," I said. "I watched you ask for
23:42seconds."
23:44She flinched. Good, she needed to.
23:47Wayne held out the envelope.
23:49"This is $25,000.
23:51It isn't everything. It's what Donna and
23:54I can give without touching our
23:56retirement, and it comes from us, not
23:59from Jared, and not from Lauren.
24:02It's ours to pay because we raised her."
24:05I took it. I didn't open it. I didn't
24:08pretend I wouldn't. "Thank you, Wayne.
24:10That's honest of you."
24:12Then I looked at Lauren and the room
24:15went still.
24:16She lifted her head. Her eyes were red
24:19and her voice was thin.
24:21"I told you to eat the leftovers in my
24:23kitchen, in front of my parents, after
24:27you cooked the whole meal and bought the
24:29wine.
24:30She swallowed.
24:32I wanted them to think I had everything
24:34handled. I never once thought about what
24:36you were handling for me.
24:38No, I said you didn't.
24:41I'm working 40 hours a week now. My feet
24:44hurt when I get home and I finally
24:46understand what a paycheck weighs. A
24:49tear slid down her cheek and she let it.
24:52I'm sorry, Sheryl.
24:54I'm not saying it so you'll turn the
24:56phones back on. I know you won't. I'm
24:59saying it because it's true.
25:01I let that sit a moment. I wanted her to
25:03hear her own words in my quiet living
25:06room.
25:07I accept your apology, I said. Here is
25:10how it's going to be.
25:12Ella is welcome here anytime Jared or
25:15you bring her and she is welcome to stay
25:17as long as she likes.
25:19You are welcome at my table on holidays
25:21if you come as a guest and you bring a
25:23dish.
25:24But my checkbook is closed, Lauren. For
25:27your cars, your trips, your camp, all of
25:30it. That door doesn't reopen.
25:32I understand, she whispered.
25:35And you won't need a key, I added. I'll
25:38let you in when you knock.
25:40Wayne nearly smiled. Donna looked at her
25:43lap. Lauren nodded once, slowly, like a
25:46woman signifying something.
25:48They left 20 minutes later. At the door,
25:52Wayne shook my hand and held it a beat
25:54longer than he had to.
25:56Thank you for raising a son who told the
25:58truth, he said quietly. Then they were
26:01gone and I was alone with my pound cake
26:04and a white envelope. I cut myself a
26:07slice and ate it standing at the
26:09counter, grinning like a girl.
26:12Thanksgiving, they invited me.
26:14Jared set a real place for me and Lauren
26:17cooked the turkey herself. A little dry,
26:20honestly, but hers.
26:22Before we ate, Jared pulled out the
26:24chair at the head of the table and said,
26:26"Mom, this one's yours."
26:29I sat down.
26:30I didn't forgive everything in that
26:32moment.
26:33Trust takes longer to rebuild than a
26:35bank balance.
26:36But I ate my dinner at the head of that
26:39table, exactly where I belong, and I
26:41intend to keep that seat.
26:44If you take one thing from my story, let
26:46it be this.
26:48People learn how to treat you from what
26:50you allow, what you stop, and what you
26:53walk away from.
26:54You never have to eat the leftovers in
26:56your own life.
26:58Helping the people we love comes
27:00naturally, and it can be hard to see
27:03where generosity ends and being taken
27:06advantage of begins. Have you ever had
27:08to set a firm limit with family after
27:11your kindness was used against you?

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