How Caring for My Mom Changed My Life and My Career

When people ask why I do what I do, I usually tell them the truth. I didn’t plan to work in elder law. I was thrown into it.

A Call That Changed Everything

I was in my twenties, living in Washington, D.C., working as a paralegal. Life was steady. I had a good job, a decent apartment, and a clear path toward law school.

Then my mom called. Her health was failing. She had broken up with her boyfriend and was on her own.

As an only child of a single parent, that call changed everything overnight. I packed up, moved out of my apartment, and brought her to live with me in a small one-bedroom in Takoma Park, Maryland. She got the bedroom. I got the pull-out couch.

For the next three years, I was her caregiver.

Learning the System the Hard Way

My mom had kidney failure and needed dialysis three times a week. The hospital was a few blocks away, and I learned every route between our home, her clinic, and the Social Security office by heart.

During that time, I did everything I now help my clients do, only without any help or direction. I filled out Medicaid applications. I handled Social Security paperwork. I set up her legal and medical documents.

I did it all by reading, asking, guessing, and sometimes crying out of frustration. No one in the law firms I worked for knew this type of work. No one could show me how.

I didn’t know it at the time, but those nights at my kitchen table were preparing me for what would become my calling.

The Hard Lesson That Became a Purpose

I learned firsthand how confusing and emotional this kind of planning can be when you’re on your own.

I remember thinking, there has to be a better way to do this. Families shouldn’t have to stumble through a maze of rules while juggling fear, fatigue, and guilt.

When my mom passed, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my career being the kind of guide I didn’t have. Someone who could say, “I’ve been there. Here’s how to do it right.”

That experience shaped everything about how I work today. My goal is to lift the weight off families who don’t know where to start and give them peace of mind when life feels overwhelming.

From Frustration to Service

When I meet with families now, whether they’re adult children caring for aging parents or couples trying to protect what they’ve built, I see echoes of that season of my life.

The same fear. The same questions.

And I get to do for them what I wish someone could have done for me and my mom.

That’s why my work isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about people. It’s about sitting with someone who feels lost and helping them feel steady again.

What I Want Every Family to Know

Planning ahead isn’t about money or legal documents. It’s about dignity, security, and love.

When you plan, you’re not just protecting your assets. You’re protecting your family from confusion, conflict, and heartache later.

That’s why I tell everyone:
Do it right.
Do it in writing.
And don’t wait until life forces your hand.

Final Thought

If you’re caring for an aging parent, or if you’re the parent who wants to make life easier for your kids, I get it. I’ve lived both sides of that story.

Planning ahead doesn’t take away your independence. It gives you control. That’s the lesson my mom taught me. And it’s one that still guides every family I meet with today.

Join Me for a Free Estate Planning Workshop

If any part of this story sounds familiar, I’d love to invite you to our next free in-office estate planning workshop here in Fremont, Ohio.

It’s a relaxed, educational session where we’ll cover how to:

• Protect your family and your assets

• Avoid the most common estate planning mistakes

• Create a plan that actually reflects your wishes

You’ll leave knowing exactly where to start — and what to do next.

Reserve Your Seat

Join Attorney Wylkan for a free in-office estate planning workshop and learn how to protect what matters most. Spots fill quickly — reserve yours today.