Ive always made it a priority to raise my son with respect for women his grandmother, mother, wife, or daughter and I truly believe that this is one of the finest traits a man can develop. My husband and I gave our son an excellent upbringing and a solid education, providing him with all he needed to build a bright future for himself. We were determined not to interfere too much as he grew older, yet even so, we bought him a two-bedroom flat. He was working and supporting himself, but he simply didnt have enough savings yet for a place of his own.
We didnt present him with the flat as a gift straight away, nor did we even mention the purchase. There was a reason for this our son had been living with a girl, Lucy, for about a year. Wed never met her parents, and I found the whole setup a bit unsettling.
Later, I discovered from a friend that Lucys mother used to be her neighbour, and what she told me left a sour taste in my mouth. It turned out that Lucys mother had thrown her husband out when he began earning less than usual. But that was only the beginning; after that, she struck up a relationship with a married man who was well-off and seemed to play a fatherly role for Lucy. As for Lucys father Well, her grandmother was not much different from her own daughter. She too was involved with a married man and insisted on Lucy and her mother coming to help her on her countryside property, which caused no end of arguments between my son and his future mother-in-law.
What worried me most in this situation is how Lucys mother and grandmother were influencing her against her father. Its clear that Lucy cares for her dad, but because of these two women, her relationship with him is now at risk.
To make matters worse, the final straw for me was when Lucy decided to drop out of university, claiming its a mans duty alone to provide for the household. Now, I agree that men should take care of their families, and Ive raised my son for such a role, but what if life hands him a challenge? Wheres the safety net? How will Lucy support her husband if hard times hit?
As a result, I decided to keep the flat in my name, as I know my son is gentle by nature as people often put it, “like a lamb.” Of course, anything gained before marriage isnt split in a divorce, but Lucy seems clever enough that she could just leave my dear boy with nothing but the shirt on his back.
In the end, life has taught me that love and respect for your family are essential, but so is looking out for your childrens future. Sometimes, real care means making difficult decisions, even if your heart wishes otherwise.
