Why My Mom Slept with the Windo

The writer recalls being confused by a childhood habit of their mother, who slept with her window open even in winter.

As a child, they teased her and preferred warmth and closed windows, unable to understand why she invited the cold inside.

When asked, she simply smiled and said “fresh air kept the soul alive,” a phrase that felt meaningless at the time.

After her death, grief led the writer to sort through her belongings, where they discovered her journals.

One entry revealed that opening the window during painful moments reminded her that life and hope still existed beyond her suffering.

What once seemed like a quirk was actually a coping ritual rooted in resilience.

Realizing this, the writer finally understood their mother’s quiet lesson.

Opening their own window after her passing brought comfort, connection, and a renewed sense of peace.