My husband and I really wanted a child, so immediately after getting married, we tackled the “case.” After 9 months, our Misha was born. My mother-in-law was not very pleased with the appearance of her grandson. Although we lived with her in the same apartment, she was not involved in his life. I managed on my own, not relying on her initially, so I didn’t care. She lived her life, and we lived ours, albeit under the same roof.
A year after the birth of our son, we thought about having a daughter. Why did I want a girl? And what’s the point of going to work now, only to go on maternity leave again? Might as well go for it all at once. Besides, as long as the necessary skills for taking care of a baby aren’t forgotten, motherhood will be a joy.
We found some sort of planning calendar on the internet and started calculating the date to conceive a girl. After a few months, I saw the two beloved lines on the test. We were very happy, but my mother-in-law twisted her face.
When we announced the news to her, she got angry. I knew she was a difficult person, but I didn’t expect these words from her:
“Are you crazy? Why do you need a second child? The first one hasn’t even recovered, and the other one is being patched up. There’s no roof over your head, and you’re reproducing!”
How can one react to a pregnancy like that? We don’t ask her for anything, we don’t sit on her neck, our addition to the family won’t affect her in any way. Moreover, I work part-time from home, earning a good salary, and my husband has a prestigious job.
“So you’ve given birth to two, why are you indignant?” I asked.
“I didn’t want a second one, it was my husband’s idea. And I have an age difference between the children, and you’ll be dying with two at once.”
“It’s our decision. We don’t ask for your help! We’ll manage.”
After these words, I went into the room, and my husband tried to calm down his mother. I tried to ignore the negativity and relax. I had a son, a loving husband, and a daughter in my belly—why should I be upset by an unreasonable woman?
Soon, we went to my parents’ dacha for the entire summer, and then we rushed to the sea. My mother-in-law and I hardly ever crossed paths. It had a positive effect on my well-being as I wasn’t stressed.
We returned to her just before the birth. She pretended not to notice us. Well, fine!
Is this a normal reaction from a future grandmother? Would you be able to handle parenting at that time?
