Key points:
A doctor shared a story on X about his mother babysitting children in the 1970s after moving to the United States.
What began as babysitting one child grew into a de facto daycare that helped fund the family’s first home.
The story drew widespread admiration, with many sharing similar .
A simple story shared on X by an Indian-origin doctor about his mother’s early years in the United States has struck a chord with social media users. The post was shared by Sachin H. Jain, MD, MBA, on February 10, 2026. The heartsome story began when his mother arrived in the United States in the 1970s. In her early days, she found herself in unfamiliar territory. Her husband was busy completing his anesthesiology residency and working extra shifts to make ends meet. But rather than waiting passively for their fortunes to change, the doctor’s mother took action.
The turnaround began with a simple handwritten advertisement on a corkboard in their apartment building: “Babysitter needed.”
What started as watching one child, the son of a nurse, for “a few dollars a night” quickly evolved into something much larger. Word spread through the apartment complex, and soon their small living space was transformed into a daycare center.
The children adored her. They were especially fascinated by her rotis, the traditional Indian flatbreads that would magically puff up on her stove.
“Mrs. Jain has magic,” they would shout in wonder.
Over time, her earnings reached about $200 a week. Within a year, she had saved around $10,000. That money became the down payment for the family’s first home in the United States.
The doctor ended his post with quiet awe at his parents’ courage and determination, writing that he would “never cease to be amazed at the courage and the hustle of people like my parents who picked up their whole lives to make it in another country.”
Many responses echoed gratitude and recognition. One physician replied that stories like this matter and that people sometimes need reminders of what earlier generations endured to create stability.
See also: Doctor's Tweet Flags Poor Road to Bengaluru Airport
Another commenter shared a parallel family history involving in-laws who fled Cuba after Castro’s rise to power. The father-in-law spent his life raising four sons while sending money back to Cuba to help rescue other family members. Though trained as a civil engineer who built physical structures, his true goal, the commenter wrote, was freedom for his family.
Not all responses were supportive of the doctor’s mother.
One reply, while acknowledging the warmth of the story, asked a pointed question:
“I’m sure your mother is a lovely lady, but did she report that income as required?”
This question shifted the conversation from admiration to scrutiny, raising issues about the rules and regulations that should be followed in such circumstances.
Another response added critical context:
“Cute story. Not taking away from the hard work of your parents, but it would be good for you to acknowledge that moving to the U.S. meant your parents were from the topmost layer of Indian society. They just went from privilege to more privilege. This is not a rags-to-riches story.”
(Rh/VK)
