My in-laws stayed in our 1-bedroom apartment for over a month. It was hard to be productive, so I had to set boundaries.

Tech Insider : Business
A couple walking into an apartment with suitcases, they are standing on the deck and walking toward the door.
The author's in-laws (not pictured) stayed with her and her husband when they came to America for their annual vacation.

Milko/Getty Images

I sent a letter to a deployed soldier to thank him for his service. We are now celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary.

Tech Insider : Business
soldier reading letter among war
The author (not pictured) sent a letter with cookies to a soldier she had never met before.

Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images

I moved from the US to France. It took 4 years and one great piece of advice for the country to finally feel like home.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Sand beach beneath the colorful old town Menton on French Riviera, France
When I moved from the United States to France, one piece of advice and a few years of living in my new country helped me adjust.

Xantana/Getty Images

I work so hard to provide a good life for my 4 kids that I hardly ever see them anymore

Tech Insider : Business
Woman working on a laptop at a counter with a man and kids in the background

MoMo Productions/Getty Images

I dropped out of Oxford because my workload was too much, and I had no time to enjoy college. It was the best decision.

Tech Insider : Business
headshot of Graham Price
The author dropped out of Oxford University.

Courtesy of Graham Price

My son got in trouble at school. It's hard not being able to fight his battles

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
young kid being bullied at school
It's hard to protect your kid from the tough stuff of middle school. (The author's son is not shown here.)

Pawinee Rangkeaw/Getty Images

My parents had my youngest sister when I was 17. Helping care for her made me feel older than my peers.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
A girl sits with a baby in a high chair at the kitchen table studying for a university class.
I was 17 when my youngest sister (not pictured) was born. At times, I felt more like her third parent than a sibling.

RichVintage/Getty Images

Remote work has been the best thing for me as a parent but the worst as a person

Tech Insider : Business
mother at work in home with two kids distracting her
Working from home blurs the boundaries between "employee" and "mom."

MoMo Productions/Getty Images

I used to hate slow walkers. Then I got sick and I became one of them.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Subway commute in NYC
The author (not pictured) was diagnosed with a cardiac issue and could not raise her heartbeat.

lechatnoir/Getty Images

I spent summers in Transylvania with my grandfather when I was little. Now he's 97, so I moved there to be closer to him.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Woman and grandfather on train
The author moved to Transylvania to be close to her 97-year-old grandfather.

Courtesy of the author

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