She longs for freedom in retirement, and we no longer stand in her way.
Her motherinlaw wanted a spacious life after retiring now we leave her be.
Sometimes fate plays such odd tricks that reality blurs with cruel irony. I never imagined that after twelve years living together under my motherinlaws roof, when everything seemed stable, our family would face a moral ultimatum: pay up or get out.
Shortly after our wedding, Élodie Dubois offered my husband and me to move into her large threeroom flat in the heart of Paris, while she happily took my small studio in the suburbs. We were thrilled: central living, good conditions, and the blessing of my motherinlawwhat could be better for a young couple?
We poured the wedding money into renovationsfrom floor to ceiling the apartment looked brand new, with a modern kitchen, refurbished bathrooms, fresh parquet, and a better layout. My motherinlaw came to admire the result, eyes shining. Its wonderful here! Youve done a great job!the compliments came with every visit. As a thankyou, we covered all her rental expenses. Relieved, she often thanked us, saying she could even set aside a little money from her pension. Honestly, for all those years we never regretted the arrangement.
Then the children arrived: first a boy, then a girl. As the family grew, we began to dream of a real home of our own. We saved for a larger place, though a fourroom flat was beyond our reach. We kept our plans from Élodie, hoping to handle it smoothly when the time came.
Everything changed when she retired. The joy of freedom quickly turned into complaints: How can I live on such a meager pension? Retirees are ignored by the government! We did what we couldgroceries, medicines, small favors. One day, over tea, she dropped a sentence that left my husband speechless.
My dear, youre living in my apartment, after all. So, shall we talk about rent? Lets say a thousand euros a month?
My husband was silent, then finally replied:
Mom, are you serious? We already pay your bills, your groceries; your cost of living is almost nothing. And now you want rent?
Her answer was blunt:
In that case, lets swap again! I want my apartment back!
We realized it was blackmailharsh, direct, and utterly ungrateful. What she didnt know was that we already had the funds for a down payment on our own home. We listened in silence, and that same evening decided we could no longer endure it.
A few days later we arrived with a cakenot to apologize, but hoping she would reconsider. As soon as the topic arose, she shouted:
So, is it settled? Or are you going to cram yourselves into my place?
Our patience snapped.
Élodie, I said calmly, we wont cram ourselves anywhere. You take back your flat, and well claim our independence.
And with what money, I ask you? she retorted.
My husband cut in:
Well manage. Its no longer your problem. Remember, mom, you chose this. You wanted to live alone in your threeroom flat? Youll have it.
Things moved fast. We found a new home, secured a loan, tapped our savings, and sold my studio to lower the installments. Three weeks later our boxes were packed.
Today, Élodie lives again in her renovated apartment funded by our moneythe one she lovedonly to discover shell be alone. She now complains to neighbors about poor workmanship and ungrateful children, pays her own bills, carries her groceries, and finally tastes the bitter reality of a retirement without assistance.
As for us, we inhabit a slightly cramped fourroom place, but we are freemorally and physically. No more accounts to settle, no fear of crises or new demands. We have turned the page.
As the proverb says: You reap what you sow. This time, however, were not the ones paying the price.
