Troublesome Soninlaw
Margaret Whitaker was gently rocking her granddaughter, trying desperately to find a hold that would finally lull the little one to sleep. Milly had arrived a nervous bundle; for the first few months she cried almost nonstop. Breastfeeding never took off for Margarets daughter, Pippa, and her motherinlaw, so they resorted to formula, which gave the baby a perpetual tummy ache. They swapped brands, gave her dill water, chamomile tea, tried every home remedy they could think ofnothing worked. In the end Margaret spent hours rocking. The elderly district nurse they called in merely waved her hands and said, A little one like thatshell outgrow it by three months, I reckon.
Grandma gazed affectionately at the tiny, sleeping face. Shell grow up a beauty and a brainbox, just like my dear Pippa.
Her reverie was broken by the clatter of the kitchen door as her soninlaw, Maxwell, swaggered in. He peered dramatically into the pot of soup, let out a soft snort, and slammed the lid shut. Margaret flinched and thought, If only Pippa could finish her degree and get home alreadythen I could go back to my knitting.
Maxwell was adamant that Pippa should quit her final two years of university now that she had a baby, insisting that motherhood should be her only course of study. Margaret, on the other hand, was secretly opposed to Pippa marrying Maxwell in the first place. The compromise they struck was simple: Pippa would finish her degree, no academic leave, because a break often turned into a permanent dropout.
Every compromise, however, has its price. Margaret put her own parttime job on hold to look after Milly until the little one could start at the local nursery. She tightened her beltshe had no other income. Scrimping on groceries, she often arrived at Pippas flat hungry, lost a few stone, and felt her energy wane. And that was only the beginning of the headaches.
* * *
Mum, can you believe it? In a month Ive got to clear all my credits and hand in my dissertation, and I havent even started, Pippa groaned. Tomorrow Ive got four lectures. Could you sit with Milly? I cant miss any seminars or tests, or I wont be allowed to sit the finals!
Maybe Maxwell can watch her tomorrow; isnt it his day off? Margaret suggested.
Ol Margaret, I need a break too, Maxwell replied. Pippa, if its too much for mum, stay home tomorrow. Nothing will happen to your degree. At this point youre not even going for a firstclass honours anyway.
Im not even aiming for that any more, Pippa sighed, a hint of regret in her voice. I just want to pass. Mathematical modelling is a dark forestnothing makes sense, and the formulas are halfpage monsters.
Study doesnt pay the bills, Margaret retorted. I never went to university, yet Im cashing in a decent pension at fortyfive. And your mum went to schoolwhats a teacher earning now?
Pippas heart tightened with hurt, but she didnt want a family showdown. She gave a guilty smile, offered everyone a cup of tea while the baby slept, and the tension eased.
The gloomy forecasts proved wrong. Pippa passed her exams, then the next ones, all with distinction. Two years later she graduated with firstclass honours and landed a lecturing post in her own department. Margaret beamed with pride, delighted that her daughter had succeeded so spectacularly. Maxwell, however, shrugged it off, condescendingly telling his wife and motherinlaw that all that educations useless nowadays.
* * *
Milly grew, started at the nursery, and filled the house with first words, cheeky antics, school performances, and frilly dresses. The sheer, unabashed affection only children can muster warmed Pippas heart and slowly melted the bitterness she felt toward Maxwell, whose attitude had grown colder and harsher.
A new thorn in their relationship sprouted: Maxwells baseless jealousy. He would butt in whenever a male colleague called Pippa about work, snatching the phone and interjecting. The young wife felt embarrassed and uneasy in those moments, but tried to keep the peace.
Despite the occasional drama, the family settled into a rhythmMargaret with her tea and knitting, Pippa juggling lectures and bedtime stories, and Maxwell, still convinced that a university degree was a relic, but secretly proud of the life theyd built together.
