My husband and I dont live in luxuryreally, were just scraping by, doing our best. We both work, though our wages are more modest than I wish they were. Truth be told, theyre rather small. We have a four-year-old daughter as well. Im sure you know how expensive it is to raise a small child these days, and all told, making ends meet on limited funds isnt a walk in the park.
To top it off, my husband decided to secretly help his mother with her rent. Were barely keeping things afloat ourselves, but somehow were still sending off pounds to my mother-in-law. Shes perfectly healthy, too, and could easily pick up work part-time if she wanted. Id do it myself, but with a young child, someone needs to be around when shes home from nursery. Ive asked my mother-in-law many times to look after my daughter, but she always declines, moaning she hasnt got the energy. Claims her health is in tatters.
Not long ago, I found out my mother-in-law had gone off on holidaynothing bargain-basement either. My husband just casually dropped it in, and didnt even spare a thought for how it made me feel. On top of that, while she was away, he wanted me to traipse all the way across London to look after her barmy collection of houseplants. To say I was flabbergasted doesnt do it justice. Instead of fussing over her ferns, I could have been earning a bit on the side elsewhere.
But what really floored me was something else. Of late, my mother-in-law has taken to living as if shes landed in Chelsea. Shes got expensive handbags, posh dresses, all sorts of boutique trinkets. I kept wondering where she was getting the cash. My husband always complains how his poor mum cant pay her rent alone, and here she is, off to fancy spas. Maybe shes got herself a well-to-do uncle whos keeping her in style.
And then, one dreamy evening, I spotted my husband lugging around the same heavy satchel again and again. When he popped into the loo, I had a peek insideand there was an odd assortment of kit. One laptop, oddly enough, belonged to my chum from work. Next day, she let slip that my husbands been moonlighting, mending gadgets for extra cash.
So thats where the moneys coming from! When I finally put it to him, asked if he gives all of it to his mum, he actually said yes.
So my daughter and I stitch our socks until theres no fabric left, with barely a thing to wear, while your mother takes spa holidays and nips to posh shops for frocks.
Theyre my earnings. Ill spend them where I like, he shot back.
Well, that was the final straw, wasnt it? If he loves his mum so much, he can go live with her. It only seems fair, doesnt it, in this ridiculous, topsy-turvy world?
