Hey love, you wont believe the circus thats been going on at our little cottage down in the Cotswolds. So the inlaws popped round the other day and I dropped a hint that maybe they could swing by and take Emma and her kids back with them. They waved their hands like theyd never heard of it.
I heard the front gate shut behind the daughterinlaw, but I didnt think much of it she usually loves wandering off for a stroll on her own, no kids in tow. Honestly, John and I have gotten used to feeding, playing with, and even putting the grandkids to bed ourselves because the young ones are either out working or taking a nap.
Then one night Emma didnt come back, and I started to get a knot in my stomach.
Tom, wheres Emma? I cant get a hold of her! I asked.
Dont worry, Mum, shes off for a weekend away, he said.
What time is it? She shouldve been back by now, I pressed.
Shes up in the hills with some friends, he replied, smiling.
Tom was calm, but my mind was racing. How could she just disappear without saying a word? Whats with that attitude?
Then another realization hit me and I couldnt shake it.
When Tom married Emma, they were both twenty, fresh out of university. Tom moved into Emmas flat because they were both on their own, yet he still wanted to bring a husband into the picture I didnt mind a bit.
Soon they had a little one, then a second. Thats when things really started to spin. Tom would bring the grandkids over in his pram, pop off for his own errands, and in the evenings Emma would show up, theyd all have dinner at our place and then head back to her.
For me, having the grandkids over was a treat they dont visit often, and Emma lives on the far side of the village, you know, a proper walk away. So when they did come, I was over the moon. The kids started popping in more and more, sometimes even staying the night when it rained or snowed. John and I were just thrilled.
I made sure the little ones always had something to eat, took them for walks so the young parents could catch a nap, helped with washing and even gave the kids a hand with their laundry. Then one day the kids announced they were moving in with us, and I felt like Id finally won a gold medal. Im the best grandma and mum, I thought, and they seemed to agree.
John travels for work all over the UK, earning a decent wage, while I keep the home running. Cooking, cleaning, looking after the garden nothings a problem for me. I even manage the little sidebusiness we have selling jam.
But lately Ive been feeling knackered. The kids have picky appetites, they need separate meals, and Emmas always got something else on her plate, leaving the kids to me. How could I tell her Im exhausted when she isnt even my child? I started asking Tom if they could at least wash up after themselves and tidy a bit.
Mum, Emmas expecting another baby. She cant use our kitchen the smell is too much for her. She didnt want to tell you, but could you tidy up a little? She cant even stay a minute, Tom said.
That sent chills down my spine. Another baby? John and I are already running on fumes. Our eldest grandson gets up at the crack of dawn, watches TV in our lounge, and stays there till the wee hours, while Emmas little one sleeps and eats quietly. And wheres little David? Hes at home, of course.
Tom, the kids should be with you, I told him.
Well need to buy new furniture theres no room left. Maybe you could move to the kitchen and well turn your bedroom into a nursery, he suggested.
I could only stare. Our cottage has two bedrooms, a pantry, a hallway, and a really tiny kitchen.
Tom, where will we and Dad fit? The sofas already fully stretched; theres no space to even take a step, I laughed, trying to keep it light.
Then dont worry about David falling asleep on us, he replied.
Before long we had a cot set up in our bedroom for the grandson. Hed wobble awake, crawl back to his parents, be carried back, and the whole night turned into a brawl I couldnt sleep, woke up with a head feeling like a rock.
The inlaws came over again, and I hinted that maybe they could swing by and fetch Emma and the kids. They waved their hands furiously:
They lived with us for five years, youve only been around a year, so dont count on us, they said.
I realized again that somethings not right, but where do I go from here?
Emma never helped even before the third child arrived. She always found an excuse Im watching the kids, or Im out for a walk, while actually she was glued to her phone and we were out in the garden. Now shes impossible to bend, cant hold a baby, cant cook everything meets with a reaction.
Shes gone off somewhere, not answering her phone, telling nothing to anyone but her husband. Were worried, the kids miss their mum, and shes just not calling.
Tom, whos looking after the kids now? I asked.
Me, he said.
Ah, you, I sighed, feeling the darkness creep in, then youll feed them and get them to bed.
Tom has no idea what the kids like or how they fall asleep, and I turn to John:
This is the last straw; I cant keep nodding along, I mutter.
We ended up sleeping in the kitchen so we wouldnt bother Tom. He woke up in a bad mood, but I pretended not to notice. The kids wanted toast one minute, chicken the next, so I pointed to the fridge:
Everythings in there, love. Cook it, youre the one filling in for your wife now.
It went on for two days until Tom called Emma, begging her to come back because he couldnt manage.
She finally turned up, all brighteyed, saying:
Do you really need me to come all the way here? Cant you fry an egg or boil some pasta? she shouted, loud enough for John and me to hear.
She rushed into the kitchen, banging pots, only to find the fridge empty.
Where are the groceries? she demanded.
Did you buy them? I asked.
Youre sparing me the eggs? The potatoes? she snapped.
No, Im not sparing you anything. Dig up the garden, feed the chickens, collect the eggs, shop and put something in the fridge.
She grabbed the kids, hauled them to their mother, and declared shed never set foot in our house again. Tom was angry, saying his inlaws were making life miserable. John and I just held each others hands tight.
All this time the kids never asked who was paying the bills, never thanked us for the meals, never bought anything they liked.
Is this the reward we get for all the love we pour into them? Im pulling my hair out why does kindness get met with such treatment? I did everything out of love, so why did they behave like this? What do you think?
