I dont want to be a mum! I want to get out of this house! my daughter told me.
My daughter fell pregnant when she was just 15. She managed to keep it hidden for a good while. My husband and I only found out when she was already five months along. Obviously, abortion was out of the question.
We never did get to the bottom of who the father was. She said theyd only gone out for about three months, then that was that. She wasnt even sure of his exact age.
Maybe 17, or 18. Oh, it couldve been 19! Thats all she ever said.
Naturally, my husband and I were absolutely floored by the news. We knew it was going to be tough for all of us. To top it off, my daughter was adamant she wanted the baby, wanted to be a mum. I had a sneaking suspicion she hadnt the faintest clue what being a mother actually meant.
Four months later, she brought a beautiful baby boy into the worldhealthy as can be, strong too. The birth itself was a proper ordeal, and it took her a good four months to recover. There was no chance she could have coped alone, so I quit my job and threw myself into looking after both her and my new grandson.
When she finally got her strength back, she wouldnt go near the baby. Slept through the nights, wanted nothing to do with him in the day. I did what I could. I tried talking, pleading, explainingsometimes I found myself absolutely losing my temper, shouting at her for not helping out. Thats when she said:
Well, its obvious you love him. Why dont you just adopt him? Ill just be like his sister. I do NOT want to be a mum, I want to hang out with my mates, go to clubs, have a laugh! I want to have fun!
I thought maybe she was suffering from postnatal depression. Turned out, that wasnt itshe simply didnt love her own child at all.
In the end, my husband and I realised we had to get things sorted properly, so we took on legal guardianship of our grandson. After that, my daughter became completely impossible. She ignored everything we said, snuck out at night and rolled in early in the morning. She wouldnt have anything to do with her son.
Thats just how life went for several years. We honestly thought nothing would change. Our grandson grew upand got cleverer by the day. In the space of two years, he was walking, talking, the lot. And hes such a cheerful, smiling boy.
He always gets thrilled when my daughter comes homeruns over, hugs her, chats away. And, would you believe it, she suddenly softened. She turned into the most wonderful mum. Now, every spare minute she has is spent with her little boy. Shes all cuddles and kisses. Shes always saying things like,
Im so lucky Ive got a son! Hes the most precious thing in my life! Id never let anyone take him away!
My husband and I couldnt be happier that, finally, a bit of peace and harmony has come to our family.
