{"id":93496,"date":"2025-01-04T10:17:19","date_gmt":"2025-01-04T03:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/levanews.com\/?p=48256"},"modified":"2025-01-07T08:45:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T01:45:20","slug":"elderly-woman-celebrates-christmas-alone-after-her-children-find-out-she-is-a-cleaner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/elderly-woman-celebrates-christmas-alone-after-her-children-find-out-she-is-a-cleaner\/","title":{"rendered":"Elderly Woman Celebrates Christmas Alone after Her Children Find Out She Is a Cleaner"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-93926 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/pp.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"1080\"' height='\"1350\"' title='\"\"' srcset='\"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pp.png' https: sizes='\"auto,'>\n</p><p><em><strong>Victoria\u2019s children rarely called her except for Christmas, but this year, her son Matthew discovered she was working as a cleaner at a store and stopped contacting her entirely. Victoria braced herself for a lonely holiday until a surprising knock at the door changed everything.\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-48271 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/467479977_926742622935249_2905218709663090706_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"992\"' height='\"661\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>Victoria was gripping her broom tightly, frozen mid-task, as a man walked into the furniture store where she worked. It was her son, Matthew, staring at her with wide, shocked eyes. Victoria smiled and began walking toward him, but he turned abruptly and fled the store.\n</p><p>Matthew\u2019s reaction startled her. He had always been a mama\u2019s boy, but time had changed their bond. Victoria decided she would call him later to address what had happened and resumed her cleaning.\n</p><p>When her husband passed away a decade ago, her children, Matthew and Marina, suggested selling their family home and moving her into a smaller apartment. They used the remaining money to fund their businesses. Though their ventures thrived, their lives grew so busy that calls to their mother became infrequent. Christmas was the one time they always came together.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-48266 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/462132078_1727650294700203_776257843750359860_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"992\"' height='\"661\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>This year, however, Victoria realized her retirement income wasn\u2019t sufficient to cover her bills or buy gifts for her children and grandchildren. Determined to make ends meet, she took a job as a cleaner at a furniture store in the mall. At 65, she found the work manageable and was able to save enough for her expenses and even purchase thoughtful presents for her family. But she hadn\u2019t told her children about her job, worried about their reactions.\n</p><p>Her fears seemed justified after Matthew\u2019s reaction. That evening, she called him to explain.\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019m sorry, mother. I\u2019m busy right now. Can I call you later?\u201d Matthew replied curtly.\n</p><p>\u201cBut, honey. About today\u2014\u201d she began.\n</p><p>\u201cBye, mother,\u201d he interrupted, hanging up.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-48270 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/471695149_1754340258718783_4391470205012458814_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"925\"' height='\"1386\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>Victoria was left puzzled. Matthew\u2019s response felt excessive. Cleaning was honest work, nothing to be ashamed of. She decided to call Marina to see if she could shed light on Matthew\u2019s behavior, but her daughter dismissed her call as well.\n</p><p>\u201cMom, I\u2019m busy. I\u2019ll call you later,\u201d Marina said before hanging up.\n</p><p>Feeling hurt and confused, Victoria tried to comfort herself. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. I\u2019ll see them at Christmas and explain everything,\u201d she resolved.\n</p><p>As Christmas approached, however, neither child called her to plan their usual celebration. Victoria began to worry she\u2019d been excluded altogether. Two days before Christmas, she confided in her neighbor, Lorena Atkinson, over coffee.\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019ll call soon enough, Vickie,\u201d Lorena reassured her.\n</p><p>\u201cI don\u2019t know. They\u2019ve never acted this way before. What if they don\u2019t invite me? What will I do?\u201d Victoria asked anxiously.\n</p><p>\u201cThen you\u2019ll spend Christmas at my place,\u201d Lorena said with a smile.\n</p><p>Lorena, who lived in the penthouse of Victoria\u2019s building, hosted her family\u2019s holiday gatherings, which were always\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-48269 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/471731587_2311014782597621_776015890706204335_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"768\"' height='\"1152\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>lively. But Victoria still longed to spend Christmas with her own family.\n</p><p>Despite Lorena\u2019s reassurances, Christmas morning arrived without a word from Matthew or Marina. Heartbroken, Victoria cried as she cooked breakfast. Her pile of carefully chosen gifts sat untouched under the tree.\n</p><p>A sudden knock at the door broke her solitude. Expecting Lorena, Victoria opened the door to a surprising sight.\n</p><p>\u201cSurprise!\u201d her children and grandchildren shouted.\n</p><p>Victoria clutched her chest, startled but overjoyed. \u201cWhat? What are you doing here?\u201d\n</p><p>\u201cWe\u2019re spending the whole day with you, Grandma!\u201d Elizabeth, her eldest granddaughter, exclaimed, rushing inside with a large gift box. The younger grandchildren followed, squealing with excitement over the presents under the tree.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-48268 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/471663770_1562731774380038_2992860582549316687_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"992\"' height='\"661\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>\u201cCalm down, everyone. Let\u2019s get settled first,\u201d Marina called, turning to her mother. \u201cMom, sorry we didn\u2019t call earlier. This was sort of unplanned.\u201d\n</p><p>\u201cOh, don\u2019t worry. Come in, come in!\u201d Victoria urged, welcoming them inside.\n</p><p>Matthew entered last, meeting Victoria\u2019s gaze. Without a word, he pulled her into a tight hug.\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Mom. I\u2026 I don\u2019t know what came over me when I saw you at the store,\u201d he admitted, his voice heavy with emotion.\n</p><p>Victoria hugged him back. \u201cWere you ashamed of me?\u201d\n</p><p>\u201cAt first, I thought I was,\u201d Matthew confessed. \u201cBut then, after I got a call from your neighbor, I realized I was ashamed of myself.\u201d\n</p><p>\u201cMy neighbor?\u201d Victoria asked, confused.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-48272 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/Anh-thumbnail-bai-dang-web-4-1-6-1.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"1196\"' height='\"625\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>\u201cYes, Mrs. Atkinson. She told me off for not inviting you to Christmas and for ignoring your calls. She reminded me of how much you sacrificed for us. That\u2019s when it hit me\u2014I was embarrassed by how selfish I\u2019d been,\u201d Matthew explained.\n</p><p>Marina joined them, placing a hand on her mother\u2019s back. \u201cI felt the same. I was upset with you for not telling us you were struggling, but really, I was angry at myself. You shouldn\u2019t have to work at all after everything you\u2019ve done for us.\u201d\n</p><p>Victoria tried to protest, but Marina interrupted gently. \u201cWe\u2019re going to make it up to you, Mom. Mrs. Atkinson made sure of that.\u201d\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-48270 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/01%5C/471695149_1754340258718783_4391470205012458814_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"768\"' height='\"1151\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>Victoria smiled, silently thanking Lorena for stepping in. \u201cLet\u2019s forget about all that for now,\u201d she said, turning toward her eager grandchildren. \u201cIt\u2019s time to open presents!\u201d\n</p><p>That Christmas was one Victoria would always cherish. Marina and Matthew later repaid their mother for her sacrifices, ensuring she was financially secure.\n</p><p>Though Victoria enjoyed the extra support, she chose to keep her job, retiring officially at 70 with a healthy bank account and a heart full of love. From then on, her children never failed to answer her calls or invite her to family gatherings.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"</p><p>Victoria\u2019s children rarely called her except for Christmas, but this year, her son Matthew discovered she was working as a cleaner at a store and stopped contacting her entirely. Victoria braced herself for a lonely holiday until a surprising knock at the door changed everything. Victoria was gripping her broom tightly, frozen mid-task, as a &hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1439],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93496"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93927,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93496\/revisions\/93927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</p></strong></em></p>