You wont have a mother any longer! snapped Margaret, the motherinlaw.
Forget that you ever had a mother. After youre married youll leave me alone and act as if I never existed. I wont even pay for the wedding. If I didnt pick your wife, I wont fund this farce.
Harry felt a surge of joy whenever his little son, Tom, wrapped his arms around him and said,
Mum, youre the best in the world. Ill do everything to keep your smile.
Tom didnt realise how those words turned his mothers heart inside out. She was proud to have birthed such a wonderful boy, calling him her little angel. Golden curls, blue eyes, refined features he seemed born for the upper class. When he grew up, his mother began to scrutinise every potential daughterinlaw: the woman had to come from a respectable line, look wellkept, have a slender figure, hold a university degree, display impeccable manners, and preferably hold a good job in a prestigious firm.
My son already has a flat in Chelsea. He now needs a proper lady to keep it tidy, to welcome guests at any hour, because thats her duty as wife and housekeeper.
Time passed and Margarets demands only grew harsher.
No woman over twentyfive; otherwise shell bear a weak child. And we must be sure the child is certainly Harrys.
Margaret, you should fear God, chided her sister. There are no women these days who meet your standards. If you want Harry to marry soon and have children, stop meddling, or hell remain a bachelor forever.
Harry graduated with top marks from school and university, landed a highpaying position at a city firm, yet his love life stalled. Every time he introduced a girl to his mother, she found a thousand excuses to turn the prospective daughterinlaw away. At each meeting she would tell him,
Harry, go to the kitchen and slice some fruit; well chat while you do it.
The first woman Margaret had to judge was Mabel. Mabel came from a modest family: her mother a clerk, her father a furnace operator, and two younger brothers. Mabel worked as a pharmacy assistant, which made Margaret uneasy.
So she has easy access to medicines. What if she poisons my son? Or me? No, shes out. Her family are labourers; we dont need that.
Mabel, you do realise you cant marry Harry, dont you? Margaret sneered when they were alone. Youre far too different. He grew up in special circumstances you could never imagine. Forget him and find someone simpler.
Mabel left without a word, not even saying goodbye to Harry. When he asked why, she replied coldly,
Ask your mother, who raised you in those special conditions. Shell tell you youre too good for me and I should look elsewhere.
Mum, why did you hurt Mabel? I really like her. What did you tell her? Harry pleaded.
Son, youve forgotten something, Margaret said slowly. Im your mother; I know best who can make you happy. Not Mabel, certainly not. Where did you even find such a ragbag? As if no decent family existed.
Harry realised arguing with his mother was futile and walked away. He sometimes mentioned a new girlfriend but never brought her home. Margaret would offer to help arrange a marriage, but he politely declined,
Ill pick my own wife.
I know exactly who youll choose, Margaret muttered. Some cleaninglady who knows nothing but mops and ragballs.
At least the floors will shine, Harry said with a sly grin.
Dont speak to me like that! she snapped.
Harry retreated to his room. Eventually he decided to move out of his mothers flat and into his own place, the very flat Margaret had once let him rent.
His relationship with his father, George, had been strained since the divorce when Harry was six. George had avoided him for years, but recently agreed to meet.
You know why I left Eleanor? Because she never let me live. She controlled everything where I went, what I did, who I talked to. When I tried to spend time with you, she belittled me, saying I couldnt teach you anything without a degree. Why should she have borne children for me? I was just a cashcow. I quit, divorced, and she refused alimony, stripped me of parental rights.
And youre happy now? Harry frowned.
Why would I be? George replied, hurt. I bought you a flat, gave you the keys. Did she tell you?
What? Harry was taken aback.
I saved for ten years so youd have a place of your own. If you stay with her, youll have no life. She cares for no one but herself.
Why didnt you talk to me before? Harry asked cautiously.
I didnt want you to get into trouble. Eleanor threatened to take you to another town, and Id have lost you. So I watched from afar.
Georges words made Harry rethink his mother. He often said he wanted a wife who reminded him of Eleanor, his mother, though she laughed, Youll never find anyone like me. Im one in a million.
After Mabel, Harry met several other women, but none satisfied Margaret. Finally Harry gave his mother an ultimatum:
Either stop meddling in my life, or Ill cut off contact with you.
Ungrateful wretch, Margaret hissed. Who do you think youre talking to? I bought you a home, paid for your education. How dare you?
Mum, enough, Harry pleaded. I know who really bought that flat. I spoke with father; he told me everything.
And you believe him? Margaret exploded. Not my own son, but some loser?
That loser is my father.
Margarets face turned pale. She stared at him with contempt and shut herself in her bedroom. The next morning she didnt come down for breakfast. Harry knocked, hearing a furious shout:
Leave me alone and go back to your worthless dad!
Mum, why are you like this? Harry opened the door and found her on the bed, hair dishevelled, in a crumpled dress, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was a stark contrast to her usual immaculate appearance, scented with expensive perfume.
You know, son, Ive learned one thing, she said slowly. Marry whomever you like; Ill be indifferent. Even a man with a pignose and a rhinos horn. Just forget you ever had a mother. After the wedding I wont bother you, and I wont give you any wedding money. If I didnt pick your wife, I wont fund this charade.
Got it, mum, Harry said with a joking bow and closed the door. That day he moved into HIS own flat.
Six months later he invited his mother to a restaurant to announce his upcoming marriage.
And who is she? Margaret asked indifferently.
Whoever she is, you wont like her, Harry replied coolly. I just want you to know my brides name is Liz. Shes twentysix, from a long line of doctors. Very respectable.
Good heavens, and youre so sure of her merits? Margaret rolled her eyes. Show me a picture.
Harry produced his phone and displayed a photograph. The woman in the picture had an unmistakably Asian look.
Thats not my future daughterinlaw, is it? Margaret muttered. What kind of name is that?
Liz is halfKorean, Harry explained patiently.
Even better, Margaret snorted. She looks like a bulldog mixed with a rhino.
Youll come to like her once you get to know her after the wedding, Harry smiled.
Margarets breath caught at his words.
After the wedding? Youre really going through with this? To spite me?
Why would I? Im doing this for my own happiness, Harry said, calling over a waiter.
Margaret sat in shock, trying to imagine grandchildren from such a mother. The thought was dreadful.
On the wedding day Harry approached his mother sternly,
No drama, please. If Liz leaves me because of you, Ill never forgive you.
Margaret was forced to sit quietly, below the grass, watching as the radiant bride and her joyful son received congratulations, danced, and exchanged loving glances. The next morning the newlyweds arrived with a gift for Margaret, but she refused to let them in.
Alright, son, Ive done everything you asked. Now listen to me. Do not bring that mixedblood woman into my house again. Do you understand? You may have a thousand wives, but youll only ever have one mother.
The couple left, and Margaret, irritated, tossed the gift into the bin.
I wont take anything from that halfbreed, she declared.
Soon after, Margaret fell ill often, and Liz tended to her. Sometimes Harry hired a nighttime carer so his mother wouldnt be left alone. Margaret could not bring herself to accept the daughterinlaw she despised, especially after hearing Liz compare her to a mother not in her favour.
You said youd find someone like me. Where is the resemblance? Margaret complained, irritated that she now depended on Lizs care.
When the phone rang, Margaret answered in a singsong voice,
Hello, Lizzie. How are you? My blood pressure is spiking. Could you pop round? Yes, well sort that
In the end, the bitter rivalry softened. Harry saw that his mothers harshness stemmed from fear of losing control, while Liz showed kindness that softened even the hardest heart. Margaret learned that trying to shape anothers life only builds walls, and that love cannot be forced.
The lesson was clear: true happiness comes from letting go of unreasonable expectations and trusting the people we cherish to be themselves.
