I dont know what to do. My son always sides with his wife even when shes wrong.
Tears brimming in her voice, sixtyyearold Margaret Ellis clutches the phone, her hands shaking. Im at my wits end, she sobs. Mike, my only son, defends his wife, Rosie, absolutely every time. No matter what happens, no matter what I say, he waves me off and says, Mum, dont worry, Rosiell sort it out. She isnt foolish. He always finds an excuse for her, even when its crystal clear shes in the wrong.
Rosie, twentyeight, lives with Mike in a modest twobedroom flat they bought on a mortgage. Shes on maternity leave; Mike is the sole breadwinner. They scrape by, living by the skin of their teeth, careful with every pound, yet never in need. Margaret, however, cant stomach Rosie at all.
When Mike first brought her home, I was stunned, Margaret recalls. Long, fake nails, a tattoo slashed across her neck, a skirt that barely covered her thighs, heels that could have walked the runway. And those glossy lips you could see the gloss from a mile away. I thought he was joking. How could my son seriously date someone so carefree, to put it mildly?
A month later they were married. Even the wedding, according to Margaret, was a showcase of Rosies flamboyance leather skirt, glittering top, makeup like a stage star. Mike beamed, and Margaret decided to stay silent, to watch from the sidelines.
At first she barely spoke to her daughterinlaw, making only a couple of calls a month to check in. Everything changed a year and a half ago when Rosie and Mike welcomed a baby boy, little Sam.
I turned up on the second day after they were discharged, Margaret says, voice cracking. Rosie had fresh manicured nails. I blurted, Rosie, have you lost your mind? Thats dangerous for a newborn! She laughed it off, Dont worry, Ive got everything under control. When I went to see Mike, he snapped, Mum, back off. This isnt your business. And its always the same. Whatever I say, I hear, Dont interfere.
Margaret tried to parent her soninlaw with advice, gentle chiding, even scolding. Rosie responded with cold indifference. Whenever I walk into their flat its a mess. I tell her, Rosie, make Sam some soupMike works all day. She answers, Mike doesnt eat soup. How can he not? He ate it last night! Shes just too lazy. If she cooked properly, hed have both soup and borscht.
Margaret pleaded with Mike, but as always he rose to protect his wife. Mum, stop nitpicking. Everythings fine. Rosies a good mother.
A good mother? Margaret erupts. She never puts the phone down! I havent seen her without a gadget for weeks. She scrolls through Instagram even when Sam is right in front of her.
The final straw happened on a childrens playground. I knock on their door, hear nothing, assume theyre out. I step onto the little park and theres Sam in the sandbox, Rosie on a bench glued to her phone. I walk over, see Mike standing by the fence. Suddenly the boy bolts toward me, grins, calls Grandma! and Rosie she doesnt even turn! He darts onto the road! Its quiet there, hardly any traffic, but you never know!
Thank heavens, Margaret whispers, her voice trembling, there werent any cars at that exact moment. I snatched Sam, ran to Rosie, but she sat there, dazed. I lunged, If you dont put that phone away right now, Ill smash it on the pavement! Are you a mother or what?
Rosie leapt up, grabbed Sam, and fled. The baby wailed, reaching for me, but she slammed the door shut and never opened it again.
I called Mike, told him everything, word for word, Margaret continues. He says, Mum, youve gone too far. Calm down. Rosie can handle it. How can he say that? I saw it all with my own eyes! He doesnt believe me! Now they both ignore my calls, wont open the door. Its been a month. I have no idea what she whispered to him, but I just want my grandson safe.
Margaret asks herself, Maybe Mikes right? Maybe I should have kept quiet? But I cant stay silent when a childs safety is at stake. Im a mother, Im a grandmother.
Now she sits alone, phone switched off, a solitary figure in a silent flat. Her son, the boy she raised, has chosen his wifes side always.
