When people used to complain that they couldnt get along with their husbands family, I never believed them. Things were fine with his parents, perhaps because, shortly after the wedding, we moved two hundred miles away.
I barely had a chance to get to know my new mum-in-law. Right after the wedding, we stayed in their flat for a week, and it was pleasant enough then. But after that, we moved out, as my husband was serving in the military.
We lived there for ten years. Then, suddenly, they reassigned my husband back to his hometown in the Midlands. The news unsettled meId settled in, we had a lovely house, and I was expecting our third child. But, well, there was nothing to be done.
I gave birth in my husbands hometown. A year later, unexpectedly, I found myself pregnant again. It wasnt planned, and I felt unprepared, but wed always wanted a big family, so we didnt hesitate.
While I was pregnant, my mum-in-law came over, insisting she was there to help. Shed pop in from time to time, but instead of lending a hand, she simply sat at the kitchen table, drinking tea, and offering her unsolicited advice.
I managed to ignore her comments about cleaning and household chores, but when she started critiquing my parenting, my temper flared. It made me uneasya woman who hardly knew me, hadnt seen me in ten years, and knew her grandchildren only from photos, barking orders at me.
And then, deep into my eighth month, she declared, Youre definitely having a girl!
We did hope for a girlwe had three sons already! So I smiled and asked, What makes you say that? She replied, You look older, youre swollen, your face is all puffy. A girl always steals her mothers last bit of beauty. Thank you, I suppose… Ive always been this puffy during every pregnancy.
No, not every pregnancy, she pushed back. How can you possibly know? Youve only ever seen me pregnant in pictures. Dont argue with me, she snapped. When I was carrying my son, everyone said I was glowing and beautiful. You, on the other hand, look dreadfulswollen, like youre filled with water. Your feet dont even fit in your slippers.
I said nothing. I didnt bother explaining it wasnt about the babys gender, but rather the fact I was thirty-nine. Shed had my husband at nineteenof course she was still blooming then. Shed often called me ugly, and my husband always stepped in to put her in her place. By the way, we had another boy…
