Before the divorce, Emily cared for her child alone, but later she found a nannyher ex-husbands mother.
At first, Emily managed everything herself, but eventually, she began searching for help. She found it in her mother-in-law. She asked if the woman knew anyone who could assist, but the offer came back with a price. Emilys salary wasnt much, and she had to budget carefully.
At work, I have a colleague who struggles. She hardly takes care of herselfno trips to the salon, no indulgences. I often wonder where her wages disappear. She lives with her parents, free of a mortgage, yet her former mother-in-law looks after her child, and still, she receives maintenance payments.
It turns out Emily pays her parents for a room and her ex-husbands mother for childcare. How does anyone live like this?
Half a year ago, when Emily started working with us, we became friends quickly. We had so much in commonsimilar interests, children the same age.
She told me straight away shed divorced and moved back in with her parents. They were well-off, both in their fifties, holding good positions. They owned a house in the countryside and holidayed abroad every year. When their daughter returned, they gave her a roombut not for free. From the very beginning, they charged her rent.
Emily was relieved to be with family rather than strangers, and it was better for the child, too.
They allotted her a single shelf in the fridge. She never used their things, except occasionally to treat her son to fruit.
I dont understand how parents could act this way, especially when Emily left her marriage with nothing. The first few months, she was in debt to them.
Before the split, she cared for the boy alone, but later she needed help. She found it in her former mother-in-law. At first, she asked if the woman knew anyone, but she offered herselffor a fee. Emily agreedthe woman knew her grandsons habits, his likes and dislikes, what to allow and what to forbid. She was reliable. When needed, she stepped in.
It shouldve been a good arrangement, but Emily barely scraped by. There was no room for luxuries.
I just cant fathom how parents could treat their own child like this.
