Teen Is Ashamed to Invite Older Mom to Graduation until She Hears Her Voicemail from Hospital — Story of the Day

A teen girl thinks her old mother is not pretty enough to be introduced to her classmates’ parents and cuts her off from her graduation ceremony. She regrets her actions not long thereafter, when she receives a voicemail from her mother.

Zoe was a little bigger than a peanut when Miriam stepped in to care for her. She raised the girl on her own and did her best. But unfortunately, that love wasn’t enough for Zoe’s heart.

The teen girl despised Miriam because she was older than most moms. For most of Zoe’s high school, nobody knew she had a mother because Miriam didn’t fit her ‘standards’ of a mother.

“Is that your grandma, Zoe?” one of her classmates asked when Miriam unexpectedly showed up at her school to pick her up. Zoe’s face fell when she saw her and what followed was a huge fight about how Zoe was ashamed of Miriam…

“Why did you come to my school? Why can’t you just leave me alone, Mom?” she screamed at her.

“But Zoe…” Miriam said defensively. “What’s wrong if I want to pick my daughter up from school?”

“It’s all wrong, Mom! Look at you. You look old! Everyone assumed you were my grandmother! You wear shabby clothes to work every day, your makeup doesn’t hide your wrinkles, and you look terrible. The very least you can do for me is leave me alone!”

“Zoe!” gasped Miriam. “I didn’t know you hated me so much!”

“Hate is such a small word, Mom. I don’t want you here,” she snarled, slamming her bedroom door in Miriam’s face.

Miriam was hurt that Zoe was embarrassed by her. She couldn’t believe all her years of love and care for Zoe had resulted in this. Unfortunately, it was only the beginning of the disaster that awaited them…

Miriam walked away with a heavy heart, not wanting to believe that Zoe could be so dismissive of her. Deep down, she felt like she had failed, that the relationship she had cultivated with her daughter had come to nothing.

Perhaps I wasn’t a good mother. Perhaps my upbringing was flawed!

After that day, everything changed. Zoe began avoiding Miriam, and she wouldn’t even talk to her. Their dinners would be quiet, with no discussion of their days, and Zoe would rarely be home on weekends.

Miriam felt lonely and unloved. She feared that getting close to Zoe would push her further away, so she began observing the ‘line’ Zoe drew between them.

Miriam had given up on improving her relationship with Zoe, but she had not forgotten her responsibility as a mother. She would continue to prepare meals for Zoe, attend to her needs, and ensure she didn’t miss out on anything.

However, sometimes, things can fall apart, even when we give our all.