For years, I was the mother who always said yes. I put everyone else first, even when I was exhausted and had nothing left to give. But after a painful family vacation in Brittany, my daughter finally realized what she had been doing to me. And at 62, I discovered something I should have learned decades earlier: loving your family should never mean losing yourself.

“I would like to walk along the beach,” I said. “But first, I want to have a coffee. A proper coffee, without looking at the time.”

Claire smiled.

“Then that is exactly what we will do.”

For the first time in a long while, I believed her without wondering what she expected me to do in return.

We found a small café overlooking the harbor. There were only a few people inside. An elderly couple sat near the window, sharing a newspaper, while a young waiter arranged cups behind the counter.

Claire ordered her coffee.

I ordered mine.

And then we sat there quietly.

No one asked me to find a napkin.

No one needed help with a jacket.

No one was waiting for me to solve a problem.

For a few minutes, I simply watched the boats moving gently on the water.

Then Claire reached across the table.

“Mom, can I ask you something?”