Vi tog med min svägerska Renata och hennes två och ett halvt år gamla son på semester vid västkusten – tusen gånger har jag ångrat det

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Author I want to knowReading 3 minViews 5Published by February 7, 2026

Jag tog med min svägerska och hennes barn på semester. Jag har ångrat mig tusen gånger om.

Alltså, varje sommar brukar jag och min man åka ner till kusten på västkusten alltid med våra närmaste vänner, våra egna bilar och tält, du vet. Vi har blivit riktiga proffs på det där. Vi letar upp en liten bit strand där det inte är så mycket folk, slår upp tält, och dagarna fylls med bad, sol och skratt. På kvällarna sitter vi vid en liten brasa, någon plockar fram gitarren, och vi tar ett glas kallt vitt vin och bara sjunger och har det fint.

I år ville min svägerska, Ingrid, och hennes två och ett halvt år gamla son följa med. Vi funderade länge ska vi ta med dem eller inte?

Men ja, vi lät oss övertalas. Om jag ska vara ärlig så var det inte lilla pojken som ställde till det, utan Ingrid själv. Redan under bilresan dit började det: Ingrid ville stanna så fort det gått en timme. Hon var trött och behövde sträcka på benen hela tiden, så vi kom fram mycket senare än planerat. Vännerna hann nästan bada och slå upp tälten klart innan vi äntligen klev ur bilen. Då började andra akten Ingrid var rasande:

Jag tänker inte bo här!

Men alltså, vi sa ju att det skulle bli tältsemester!
Jag trodde ni menade att vi skulle hitta något litet rum på plats, eller kanske hyra ett pensionat.
Varför tror du vi packat sovsäckar och tält, då? gnällde min man.
Jag trodde mer att det var en sån grej ni gjorde, inte att vi verkligen skulle campa.

Så vi fick hyra ett rum till henne på närmaste vandrarhem. Min man fick köra fram och tillbaka för att hämta henne på morgonen och lämna henne på kvällen. Dessutom skjutsade han henne både till caféer, affärer och marknader och tog hand om hennes pojke medan hon “behövde återhämta sig från allt slit”.

Trots allt så hjälptes vi andra åt med pojken. Men, ärligt talat han var himla enkel. Han sprang omkring, badade i havet, åt vad som bjöds och somnade snällt i tältet på eftermiddagen. Riktig liten klippa, helt olik sin mamma. Nästa år, då får Ingrid faktiskt stanna hemma. Men sonen? Om hans föräldrar vill han får jättegärna följa med. Han är verkligen som klippt och skuren för campinglivet!

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Vi tog med min svägerska Renata och hennes två och ett halvt år gamla son på semester vid västkusten – tusen gånger har jag ångrat det

She Ran Away for Good — Did you stand up to him again? — her mother asked as she unpacked shopping bags. — Alya, when will you learn some sense? Sergei is a decent man, handsome, hardworking, he never cheats. He may have a temper, but it’s because he shoulders all the responsibility. You should put your pride aside. — Mum, he hit me. Because I mentioned nursery. You think that’s normal? — Oh, here we go again! — her mother threw up her hands. — What a tragedy. Back in my day, they disciplined kids with the reins, and families were strong. Look how he loves you! Goes out of his way for you, brings you everywhere. Where else are you going to find someone like him? With a child in tow? Who do you think wants you? Alya stood at the cooker, stirring the fourth dish of the evening. Soup boiled in one pot, meat sizzled in the pan, a pie baked in the oven, and in a saucepan, she wrestled with a tricky gravy Sergei insisted must be the perfect consistency—“so a spoon stands up but doesn’t fall over.” Sweat dripped down her face, stray hair stuck to her cheeks, but Alya didn’t dare step away even for a minute. The TV blasted in the living room, volume maxed—Sergei couldn’t stand silence, he said it messed with his head. Her son slept in the back room, and Alya constantly listened out for the sound of crying if the laughter track from the telly got too loud. Her husband slipped into the kitchen as quietly as a cat. He hugged her from behind, making Alya jump. — Smells delicious, — he murmured into her hair. — My little homemaker. Tired? Alya froze, spoon clamped in her fist. At moments like these, he was the man she’d married three years ago: gentle, caring, dependable. But… — I am tired, Sergei. Maybe it’s time we think about nursery? Lenka’s old enough now, he needs friends. And I’d like to go back to work… Instantly, his arms dropped. — This again? We’ve talked about this. He went for a week—sick for a month. Do you not care about our boy? Or do you just want to ditch him so you can sit in an office? — Sergei, all children get ill at first… That’s just adapting. The doctor says— — I don’t give a toss what your doctors say, — he cut her off. — I said nursery can wait till next year. Do you hear me? Or do you think you know better than me? — I just want my own money, — Alya turned, searching his face. — To develop myself—not stay at the stove all day. The slap sounded sharper than the sizzle of meat. Alya staggered into the sink, banging her hip on the cupboard—her ears ringing. — Oh, you want your own money? — Sergei hissed, looming over her. — I support you, buy you clothes, bring you presents. What else could you want? You’ve got it too good! Alya stayed silent, pressing her palm to her burning cheek. She knew that look. Now wasn’t the time to argue—every word only meant more bruises. — Sit and eat, — he barked, dropping into a chair. — And don’t let me hear another word about work. You’re a wife and mother. That’s your place. *** The next day, Alya’s mum arrived, apples from the garden and a new barrage of lectures in tow. Noticing the faint swelling on her daughter’s cheek, which Alya had tried to hide with concealer, her mother started up again about how a wife must obey. — I want a divorce, — Alya said quietly, cutting her off. Her mum froze, apple in hand. — Have you gone mad? Need me to call the crisis team? You’re losing your mind, girl! Do you have any idea what you’re saying? You walk out of this house, you’re not coming back. You hear me? Don’t even think about it. Put up with it, like everyone else! A memory of the shopping centre flashed in Alya’s mind—six months ago, Sergei had left her by the entrance to a children’s shop to go smoke. A hulking man bumped into Alya, knocking her to the tiles in her heels. Instead of apologising, he’d shouted at her for being in the way. Sergei had appeared out of nowhere. She’d never seen him like that before—he didn’t just defend her, he’d attacked the man with an animal rage. Security had to pull them apart. Afterwards, Sergei picked up his trembling wife: — I’m sorry, sweetheart, forgive me for leaving you alone. I’d kill anyone who hurt you. Back then, Alya thought that was true love—huge, overwhelming. Now she couldn’t understand how one person could be both knight in shining armour and the brute who’d kick her for placing a chair wrong, or making him cold coffee. The “knight” had vanished these past four months. Now Sergei could shout at her in the supermarket queue, call her names in front of strangers just for taking too long to find her card. — You idiot, Alya, — he barked, grabbing the bags. — You really need your head checked. How do I even live with someone like you? *** A thread to the outside world remained—Lida, a distant cousin in London. They spoke secretly—Alya phoned when Sergei was out. — Drop everything, Alya, — Lida urged. — My husband runs a restaurant, I need a reliable manager. You’re smart, you’re a quick thinker, you look great. I’ll rent you a flat for the first couple of months, pay for private nursery for Lenka. Come stay! — Lida, I’m scared. He said he’ll never let me go. He’ll kill me before that… — Alya mumbled. — He’s just scaring you so you don’t run. He knows you’d be a free woman without him. He needs a victim. Come on, is this a life? Stove, tears, and slaps? You dreamed of fitness, books… Do you remember how you used to laugh? Alya remembered. Every night before sleep, she closed her eyes and imagined: morning, she walks along a London street, taking her son to nursery. No one shouting, no one deciding what she should eat or what to watch. She goes to the gym, gets fit, reads what she wants—not what Sergei approves. But every time she opened her eyes and saw her husband asleep beside her, her resolve melted. She still loved him. The old version of him. A tiny hope flickered that it was just a “rough patch,” that if she waited a bit longer and tried harder, maybe he’d be kind again. *** Sunday afternoon, another argument—Alya didn’t speak sweetly enough to his mum on the phone. Her husband kicked her in the ribs as she bent down to pick up her son’s toy. Sparks flew behind her eyes. While she recovered, he left, slamming the door. Returned that evening with a huge bouquet of lilies. — What are you sulking for? — he said, coming over as she put their son to bed. — I apologised, didn’t I? Look at these. Flowers for the lady, peace for the house. Come on? He started dragging her to bed. Alya went cold—she knew he’d start demanding affection. The thought of his touch made her sick. — Sergei, not now! My side hurts, I can hardly breathe. He went red, slapped her again, then smiled: — Well fine, if you won’t, someone else will. Can’t leave a spot empty, can you. She didn’t sleep that night. Listening to Sergei clattering in the kitchen, fridge door banging, him swapping muted voice messages. In the morning, he acted like nothing happened—frying eggs, whistling a tune. — Lenka, up you get! Breakfast ready, mate! Alya walked into the kitchen, silent. Her husband slapped her on the backside as she passed. — What’s up with the long face? — My ribs hurt, Sergei, — she whispered, lowering herself onto a chair. — Oh’ll get over it, stop making things up. You walked into my hand, that’s all. He tossed the spatula into the sink, then came over, tilting her chin. — If you’re planning on playing the wounded queen any longer, remember—I’ll get bored of that real quick. I wasn’t joking yesterday. I’m a strong, healthy man. If I come home to a misery guts, I’ll find fun elsewhere. Got it? Alya nodded. — That’s more like it. My mum’s stopping by soon, she’s got some plants for you. Put yourself together so she doesn’t start asking why you look so pale. Sergei left the room. Lenka sat poking his porridge, staring at his mum with wide, all-seeing eyes, and Alya’s heart clenched. He sees everything… Would he grow up to be the same kind of bully? *** Half an hour later, her mother-in-law arrived. Alya got it in the neck, again. — Alya, why’s the hallway so mucky? — she squinted at the lino. — Sergei works hard, he shouldn’t come home to dirt. — I was late putting Lenka to bed, didn’t get to it, — Alya tried to smile. — “Didn’t get to it,” — her mother-in-law mimicked, dumping muddy plants on the table. — Lazy, ungrateful girl. My son’s given his life for you, all for your family. A proper wife would worship him, and you sulk. Sergei told me you mentioned divorce again. — He complained to you? — Yes, he said you don’t appreciate him. Where would you go, eh? Who wants a woman with baggage? Your mum’s right—men don’t put up with this. Have you seen yourself? Only Sergei’d put up with you. — Mum, stop it, — Sergei entered, hugged his mother, winked at his wife. — She’s just got a creative spirit, she’ll kick off and then calm down. So, what about those plants? Let’s see them on the balcony. They left, loudly discussing tomatoes; Alya stood by the table. Muddy water spread on the tablecloth. She got out her phone, hands shaking. “Lida, hi. I’m in. When should I come?” Reply came in a minute: “Just go, if you can. I’ll buy your tickets. Waiting for you. DON’T tell him anything.” Alya tucked her phone away. A plan began to form. — Alya! — Sergei yelled from the balcony. — What are you daydreaming for? Make mum a coffee. And me, too. — Coming, — she said. — Just coming. She played the perfect wife all day: scrubbed the floors, laughed at her husband’s bad jokes. He was pleased. He started his “surprises” again: chocolates and cinema tickets for the weekend. — See, — he pulled her close, ignoring her flinch, — I can be a good husband when you don’t wind me up. Forget the past. We’re family. She waited until he was asleep. Then she packed up Lenka’s rucksack—just essentials. Left her own things; Lida said she’d buy what they needed. Just take the documents. She bundled her sleeping son in a blanket, called a taxi. At the door, Lenka woke up. — Mummy? Where are we going? — he whispered, rubbing his eyes. — Shh, love. We’re going on an adventure. A big train ride. Want to come? — Yes, — he nodded, arms out. At three in the morning, they left. For good. *** Sergei searched hard, but never found her in the city. With her cousin’s help, Alya started a new life. She even managed divorce—the solicitor sorted everything. Sergei remarried quickly, and Alya felt sorry for the next woman. Men like her ex never change…