I'm newly wed (26) and my mom has n0 plans for her retirement (52 years old, no assets, not currently working, depends 100% on me and my sister).
Basically, she has no plan with her life and based on my observation, she always expects someone to fulfill her happiness and needs. (e.g; she used to ask me to buy a property in her hometown for "our assets" as well as for her to live in so that she doesn't need to be worried with rent fees, which I always wire to her.) I refused bc I wanted to save for my wedding, etc.
I've been working hard since I was 19, without her financial support, so that I can make my own living. She expects a grandchild and asks me around 3 times on every call. I was kind of upset because it seems she never thinks about my mental health. Having dependent, aging parents is a thing for me. Having 1 more responsibility (aka kids), I don't think my mental health and my financial condition would be OK. I want to save for my retirement so I will not be a burden to anyone.
However, sometimes I wonder if being childless with this kind of condition is the best decision that I could make.
Any opinion will be appreciated.
I just hope I don't have to make such a call myself. I hope to be a father one day. If I don't have or expect any kids when this decade ends and regardless if I'm married or not, I'm not having kids.
That said, it isn't the issue.
The issue is that you have GOT to stop allowing someone with your mother's world view to influence decisions you make for yourself.
Has your mother never worked, has she ever made herself useful in any sphere of life besides producing two children? If you really care about her and her mental health and her fulfilment as a person, wean her off the dependency and find her something to do - preferably something that at least improves her financial situation, so that she isn't infantilized for the rest of her life.
I hesitate to impose a 21st century Western European perspective on you or her. It may be that there is actually some prestige involved in her being privileged never to work, never to pay her own way, to have raised children who are willing to make very significant sacrifices for her benefit; and it's certainly not for me to judge.
But it is for you to judge what makes sense in your life. You, not her.