You wont believe the situation Ive found myself in with my son and his new wife I feel like Im living in a soap opera! My son has fallen for a rather manipulative girl, Hannah, who seems to control him as she pleases. Lately, shes been going out of her way to turn him against me, claiming I dont care about their happiness and that Im only thinking of myself. These accusations started after I refused to swap flats with them.
My husband passed away a few years ago and my son, Oliver, is my one and only child. I raised him with every bit of love and care I could give, made sure he got a good education, and before he got married, he lived with me. He started working while he was still at university and landed a great job as soon as he graduated.
Olivers always been my pride and joy such a good, hard-working lad, doing brilliantly in his career. My husband and I never had the means to buy him a flat, you know? We lived modestly, only managed to buy our own place in London when we were forty, after years of renting. We simply didnt have enough for a second property for Oliver. But I always thought, well, we managed, so surely he can too.
When Oliver told me hed started seeing someone, I was honestly thrilled. I did everything to keep things nice between me and my future daughter-in-law never criticised her or anything. It didnt matter who Oliver married, as long as he was happy. At first, I genuinely liked Hannah; she seemed shy and well-mannered. But after the wedding, the mask slipped.
Right after their honeymoon, Hannah quit her job. She said her boss was impossible and that she wanted something better, but shes been out of work for two years now and doesnt seem the least bit interested in changing that. Shes been living off Oliver without a care.
They ended up living in her tiny one-bedroom place, way on the outskirts of Birmingham. With Hannah staying at home all day, Oliver couldnt afford to buy a bigger flat anymore, especially since she spends every penny he earns on beauty salons and clothes.
I honestly cant wrap my head around how someone can be looking for a job for two whole years. She claims she goes to interviews, but I reckon she just likes being comfortable, letting Oliver foot the bill.
One day, I asked if they planned on having kids soon. Hannah just snapped back, How could we think about children living in such a cramped flat? So I suggested they start saving for a deposit, maybe for a mortgage. We dont have anything to save, we barely get by each month, Hannah replied, rolling her eyes.
I bit my tongue but honestly, if she actually contributed, theyd have savings by now. If they were even making an effort to put money together for a new place, Id absolutely help out Ive already tucked away a decent sum myself. But I have no intention of handing over cash for Hannah to fritter away on nonsense.
Recently, Hannah started going on about wanting a child, complaining that times ticking and they need to think about the next generation. But how on earth can they raise a child in their current situation? And now Olivers begun agreeing with her.
Mum, you know, Hannah and I were thinking why dont you swap flats with us? No legal bits, just a straight swap. Youd have enough space in our flat, and we wouldnt have to worry about the mortgage, Oliver said.
That hurt. I know those words werent his own. I told him Id be miles away from work and, frankly, old trees dont like being transplanted.
Hannah, with that smile of hers, said, Youve only got a few years left at work, and then well give you grandkids.
I said no to their wonderful offer I love my home and Im not leaving it. But since then, Oliver keeps bringing it up, and it stings each time. Hes never been the sort to take advantage, and now his wife is encouraging him.
When they last visited, Hannah snapped, Come on, Oliver, didnt I tell you your Mum doesnt care if we have children? Shed never lift a finger for us!
Now, after all that, Olivers stopped contacting me. He wont answer calls or ring back. I just cant understand how hes behaving like this hes not a fool, but whenever Hannahs around, its like he loses all sense.
