A mother was caught on CCTV pouring thinner and gasoline on her children before setting them on fire. Due to severe depression, she tied up her three children and then took her own life.

Do you understand why the mother brought her children with her? At first glance, it’s difficult to comprehend the decision of a mother to take her three children with her in such a painful departure from this world.

Many were shocked, quick to judge, and asked: Why include the children? Why not just herself? But behind it all lies a story of deep exhaustion, hopelessness, and a love so great it was willing to give everything—even the final breath. Every day, she carried the weight of the world. A mother with no partner, no one she could trust, and no strong support system.

The monthly allowance for her three children was only 2,500 pesos—barely enough for food, milk, medicine, and other basic needs. While her husband, a police officer, seemed to be slowly drifting away in presence and attention, she faced the harsh reality of lack, fatigue, and loneliness every day.

She brought her children wherever she went—to the market, to the hospital, everywhere—because she had no one to leave them with. Often, she was sleep-deprived, with deep eye bags, dark circles under her eyes, and even when hungry herself, she always prioritized her children. She endured it all—until one day, she just couldn’t anymore.

For some, her decision was wrong, selfish, and heartbreaking. But in the eyes of a mother who loved deeply and saw no safe future for her children, it was a desperate act to protect them from further pain, hunger, and abandonment. In her heart, it was better for them to rest together than to be left tied to a world without the certainty of love like a mother’s.

She may have thought, “Only I can truly care for my children. If I leave them behind, who can guarantee they won’t suffer, won’t be neglected, won’t get hurt?” And in her weary mind, maybe in the next life, there would be no more sleepless nights, no more struggling to stretch 2,500 pesos, no more hunger and tears.

Only peace awaited. We don’t have to accept what she did—but perhaps we can try to understand her. Because behind her quiet embrace of her children in their final moments was a mother who loved until the very end. A mother who tried to give everything, even when she had nothing left.

This is a reminder to spouses—especially men—that material things are not enough. Emotional support, love, and understanding are just as important. Depression is a serious condition that can lead to tragedy if left unaddressed. Don’t trade your family for vices or temptation, and take mental health seriously.

Many people seem okay on the outside, but are broken inside. So if you’re going through something, don’t carry it alone—ask for help.