Honestly, ever since I was expecting, I knew deep down that Id be raising my child alone. When the father found out, he literally begged me, with tears in his eyes, to terminate the pregnancy. But I stood my ground. Thankfully, my parents were truly supportivethey encouraged me to have the baby and promised theyd help with everything. And they absolutely did. My boyfriend vanished without a trace, but mum and dad were over the moon to have a granddaughter. Dad was earning a decent wage and took care of all our financial needs, while mum was always tirelessly keeping the house spotless and making delicious meals for everyone. Every time I tried to chip in with my own money, dad would return it instantly, saying, Why put the kids money in here? Youd better spend it on your child. And if I ever attempted to help mum in the kitchen, shed insist, Dont wear yourself out. Stay with your daughter, Ill handle the cooking.
As time went on and I returned to work, I began buying things the house needed, but honestly, my contributions were more symbolic than anything else. Mum took on the whole load of housework and cared for my daughter entirely. Everything seemed fine, but the moment any man appeared in our family circle, my parents would get so anxious. Havent you learned anything? Theyre all the same. Hell leave you and youll end up pregnant again! The older my daughter got, the more my parents tightened their grip.
They treated me as if I was still in school. Mum would call non-stop, asking where I was, when Id be home, who was around me, who Id spoken to, what Id eaten. After work, dad always insisted on walking me home. Eventually, someone new came into my life. As soon as mum found out and learned I had a date lined up, she practically clutched her chest, complaining about her health and begging me not to leave her side. That whole situation really impacted my relationship. My partner cancelled the first date, then the second, and then the third. By the tenth time, he just cancelled all of them. He ended up choosing someone whose mum was healthier and, frankly, far less overbearing.
