My husband and I chose to live in Washington, DC, based on job opportunities. I wish we'd chosen to live closer to family.

"After my first child was born, my priorities started to shift. My daughter was born with multiple disabilities and complex medical needs. Caring for her and working a 9-to-5 job wasn't feasible. Additionally, not knowing whether she would live until her first birthday prompted me to reevaluate how I wanted to live my life. It still wasn't the right time to move"

"Guilt also crept in when my father got cancer and my mother developed health challenges of her own. My parents needed help too, but leaving my four kids who needed me made frequent or extended visits impossible. My father passed away a few months ago, and I will always regret that I couldn't spend more time with him when he was sick. Now, my mother is older and alone, and I wish I could help her more."

Two lawyers remained in Washington, DC after marriage for better job opportunities. The birth of the first child, who has multiple disabilities and complex medical needs, made balancing a 9-to-5 job and caregiving impossible. The family had three more children and repeatedly considered moving back to Philadelphia or St. Paul but avoided uprooting careers. The father's cancer and the mother's declining health created guilt and limited visits. The father died, leaving lasting regret about not spending more time with him. The mother now lives alone and the narrator wishes to provide more help but finds moving logistically and professionally difficult.

Read at Business Insider