Before her divorce, she managed childcare on her own, but eventually needed a nanny. To her surprise, her mother-in-law suggested herself for the role, naturally for a fee. Her salary isn’t high, so she has to save every penny.
At work, I have a colleague who doesn’t have it easy. She doesn’t fuss over herself and never visits a beautician. I often wonder where her salary goes. She works, lives with her parents, doesn’t have a mortgage like others, and her former mother-in-law looks after her child. Plus, she gets child support.
It turns out Jane has to pay her parents for the room and her mother-in-law for looking after the child. I find it baffling.
About six months ago, when Jane started working with us, we quickly became friends. It turned out we had a lot in common—shared interests and children of the same age.
From the start, Jane told me she’d divorced her husband and moved back in with her parents. They’re both in their fifties and hold good jobs. They’ve built a house outside the city and spend every holiday abroad. When Jane returned, they offered her a room to stay in.
I assumed she could stay there for free, but they’ve charged her from day one. Jane is relieved it’s her family and not strangers because at least her child is better off with them.
They’ve also given her a separate shelf in the fridge and she doesn’t use their stuff, although sometimes they offer some fruit to her child.
I can’t understand this kind of behavior, especially since Jane had nothing after leaving her husband and was in debt to her parents for the first few months.
Initially, she looked after the child alone after the divorce but searched for a nanny later on. Her mother-in-law became the natural choice because she knows her grandson well. Jane liked the idea as her mother-in-law understands what he enjoys and what he shouldn’t do, so she agreed to it. Now, when necessary, her mother-in-law takes care of the little one.
Everything would be fine, but Jane is financially strapped; she can’t afford even the bare necessities, let alone any luxuries.
I just can’t fathom how parents can treat their own child this way…
