“I’ll be staying with you to make sure everything goes smoothly,” said the mother-in-law as she handed her son a suitcase and went to tidy up the place.
Emma and Charlie had enjoyed a happy marriage for five years. Initially, they hesitated to start a family because they wanted to think it through carefully. Finally, on their anniversary, they made an important decision.
“I’m ready,” Emma smiled. “I really want a baby.”
“I think it’s the perfect time!” Charlie replied. He had secured a well-paying job, their apartment renovation was complete, and there was nothing standing in the way of welcoming their first child. However, getting pregnant didn’t happen immediately. They had to undergo tests, visit doctors, and even considered alternative medicine. It was his mother, Martha Turner, who suggested they try something different when she noticed that Emma wasn’t yet showing the good news of two lines on a test.
When Martha learned they were planning for a child, she quickly became involved in her son and daughter-in-law’s lives. Weekends were filled with her calls and questions:
“So when is it happening?”
“Did it not work out again?”
“You’re doing everything wrong!”
“You need guidance for everything!”
This culminated in Martha showing up and announcing, “Here’s the address of a herbalist. She’s expecting you tomorrow.”
“Martha, I’m skeptical about these things. We’d rather stick to traditional methods.”
“I know all about your traditional methods! You’ll spend all your money on doctors with no result!”
“I’m a person of faith and won’t go to the herbalist,” Emma replied. Martha pursed her lips but said nothing, leading Emma to think the matter was closed. Yet, Martha had other plans. She persuaded her son with stories of miraculous solutions and insisted on her way.
Surprisingly, Charlie quickly sided with his mother and pressured Emma. “Just go. It’s no big deal. She’s a herbalist, not a witch. Don’t be stubborn. Mom wouldn’t steer you wrong,” he said, practically forcing Emma to visit the herbalist.
Emma had to comply. She didn’t want conflict, and she understood that both her mother-in-law and husband were working toward their shared happiness.
Emma wasn’t impressed with the herbalist. The woman muttered some words, sprinkled something over Emma, then handed her a packet of a concoction.
“Take this once a day.”
“Thank you,” Emma said, eager to leave. She considered tossing it in the rubbish bins outside, but seeing the woman watching her through a window made Emma feel uneasy. Fearing Martha would find out, she went home, intending to convince her family she followed instructions. Emma had no intentions of using the herbal mix. She placed the packet on a shelf and shut the cupboard door.
Despite leaving the herbal remedy untouched, Emma found herself pregnant about a month later. She considered it a coincidence, having stuck to the treatment her doctor prescribed. Martha, however, credited herself for the pregnancy, assuring her son that Emma’s success was thanks to her advice. Sensing that Emma had followed her suggestion, Martha felt entitled to have a say in everything.
She believed that due to her age and experience, she should have the final word on all matters, even those that didn’t concern her. She offered advice at every turn, from Emma’s diet to her bedtime. Martha’s concern and “care” reached absurd levels. For instance, almost at midnight once, as the couple watched a movie by candlelight, the doorbell rang.
Martha had come all the way across town to ensure Emma was keeping to her bedtime routine.
“What is this?! Restaurant food?!” she burst into the room and began sweeping everything on the table into a bag. There were Emma’s favorite sushi rolls and rice noodles.
“Martha, what are you doing?!” Emma tried to wrest the last plate of rolls from her mother-in-law, but Martha only got more livid, ranting that such food was unsuitable for pregnant women.
“Charlie, how could you let your wife eat all this? She might not know better, but you should! Eating at this hour is harmful, even for a healthy person!”
“Pregnancy isn’t an illness!” Emma tried to protest but was bombarded with counterarguments.
Charlie had already eaten his portion, so he wasn’t too upset that the food was gone. He figured his mom was probably right about not needing raw fish as it might affect the baby.
“Alright, Mom, we won’t order this again. Sorry.”
“Sorry?! Your mother insults me, calls me witless, and you apologize to her?” Emma couldn’t hold back anymore. She burst into tears. Charlie tried to console her while Martha quietly left, taking a whole bag of food with her.
“Let’s just forget this misunderstanding. You know she means well, right?”
“No. I don’t understand. I dislike how she meddles in everything! Other pregnant women crave chalk! Or pickles with chocolate! Why can’t I enjoy what I love?!”
“Of course, you can. Let’s do this: I’ll run to the supermarket and get you whatever you like.”
“Fine. Get me the same sushi rolls I had before your mother arrived.”
“No. Anything but the sushi.”
Emma ran off in tears. The evening was ruined.
So were many other evenings when Martha turned up unannounced, enforcing her own rules at their home. One afternoon, she showed up when only Emma was home. Emma had left work early because she wasn’t feeling well. On the way home, she started feeling better, as sometimes happens. Craving a snack, she bought a yogurt and a pastry. She nearly choked on the pastry when she saw Martha waiting at the door.
“Martha?! Why are you here?!”
“Charlie said you have morning sickness,” she said, eyeing the pastry. “No surprise, eating on the go, and cheap stuff at that. What even is this? A cheese and ham puff pastry? Hand it over!” Martha began wrestling with Emma for the pastry, and they nearly had a scuffle until a neighbor intervened.
“What’s going on, ladies? Fighting over the last piece of bread?”
“Oh, just having fun! You know, my daughter-in-law’s expecting, not realizing what’s good or bad,” Martha softened immediately.
“Oh, I understand. Young mothers think they know everything…”
The women bonded over their children, while Emma brushed pastry crumbs off and shut the door, locking it tight. Realizing she was locked out, Martha started knocking, but Emma didn’t let her in.
Martha caused a commotion in the building. Charlie showed up, leading to another argument.
Once again, Martha slinked away while Emma cried out for fairness. But with Martha’s influence, Charlie dismissed it all as raging hormones. As the due date neared, tension rose, and Martha’s “smothering” concern intensified.
Due to stress, Emma started having health issues, prompting a conversation with Charlie.
“I get that you love your mom, and she loves you… but I don’t want her coming to our home…” Emma didn’t finish as she heard a key turning and was startled, thinking only she and Charlie had keys. “Is someone breaking in?”
To her surprise, it was Martha in the hallway with a suitcase.
Emma realized she’d preferred burglars over her mother-in-law’s intrusion.
“How did you unlock the door?” she managed to ask.
“With a key. Your husband gave it to me,” Martha boasted. “He’s worried about you, and you won’t let me in. That’s not how it works. At this late stage in pregnancy, it’s crucial to access the apartment in case you can’t open the door. We’ve decided you need support, both moral and physical. With a grandchild on the way, I’ll be helping out. Meanwhile, I’ll make sure everything is done right,” Martha declared, handing Charlie the suitcase and strolling into the room.
“See, as expected. More junk food. This is going in the bin. From now on, I’m monitoring your diet. I brought homemade soup for lunch and a herbal remedy from the herbalist. Drink it now,” Martha instructed, leaving no room for objections.
Emma looked at Charlie for answers, but he just smiled and patted her shoulder.
“Mom’s right. It’ll be for the best, dear.”
