At 90, My Mother Teaches Me the Power of Compassion

Growing up in Guyana, I often clashed with my mother’s strict parenting, shaped by cultural norms and limited education. I saw her as authoritarian, and our relationship was strained. With time, travel, and exposure, I learned to forgive, realizing she parented from the only framework she knew.

My Mother, 90, Power of Compassion

Now at 90, she lives with me, and we share rituals — watching Jeopardy, cooking meals, listening to Bob Marley, and attending concerts. I cherish her prayers, her companionship, and the chance to care for her. What was once resentment has become compassion, allowing me to savor these final, precious moments together.