I'm a millennial mom of 3, and I rely on my mom's financial assistance

Courtesy of Alyse Benoit

Although my dad has helped out over the years, my 64-year-old mother — a retiree and recent widow after my stepdad died in 2023 — supports me the most. Stating this makes me cringe. I feel immense shame over being in midlife and heavily reliant on my parents.