*”She’s Not Much of a Mother”: Margaret on Her Former Daughter-in-Law’s Life After the Divorce*
Margaret from Manchester can’t come to terms with how her son and his ex-wife have moved on. What Lauren has become since the divorce, her former mother-in-law calls nothing short of *reckless irresponsibility.*
*”My son left Lauren with their child—yes, I don’t justify him. Still, a mother’s heart aches for him, whether I want it to or not. He remarried quickly, to his first love—Emma. They were together at university before she married his mate while he was away in the service. Now she’s divorced, they bumped into each other at the supermarket, and just like that, it all started again. They’ve even had a son together. So, in a way, he’s settled now.”*
Lauren came into his life after his military service. They worked together. Married in a rush, then little Poppy was born. At first, it seemed solid—a proper family. But then, as it happens, the past caught up.
The divorce was civil, no shouting matches. He walked away, leaving Lauren the flat, furniture, everything—only took his own things. Lauren handled it well, never stopped him or Margaret from seeing Poppy.
*”But what she’s done since? Unbelievable,”* Margaret sighs, shaking her head.
The neighbours were quick to speculate:
*”Drinking? Running about? Bringing men home?”*
*”No,”* Margaret frowns. *”She doesn’t drink, and she’s not the type to chase after blokes. But she acts like life’s just grand. Always cheerful—out with friends, weekends in the countryside, or off hiking. Guests over constantly. As if she wasn’t the one left raising a child alone!”*
Lauren takes Poppy everywhere. Says fresh air is good for her, that the girl needs company, that her mates have kids too. But Margaret disapproves:
*”Who knows what goes on at these picnics? Strange men? Other divorcees? Drink? Fags? The child sees it all—what kind of upbringing is that?”*
She’s convinced Poppy would be better off with her:
*”At mine, she’d have proper home-cooked meals, trips to the theatre. Not trailing about after her mother’s lot.”*
Margaret tried getting her son to reason with Lauren:
*”Tell her to set some rules. Poppy’s your daughter too. You’ve a new family—fine. But she shouldn’t be raised in this circus.”*
Her son just shrugged:
*”Mum, it’s not my place. I’m the one who walked out. She knows how to live her life.”*
He pays child support, sees Poppy when Lauren brings her round. But Lauren hasn’t let Margaret inside their home in ages:
*”Always some excuse—too busy. I reckon she’s scared I’ll speak my mind. Maybe there’s a new man—what if he mistreats Poppy?”*
Recently, Lauren snapped over the phone:
*”If you keep meddling in my life, Poppy won’t be visiting anymore. You’ll see her once a month at the park. And be grateful I haven’t cut you off altogether—another woman would’ve after your son cheated and left me. But for Poppy’s sake, I’ve held my tongue.”*
Margaret’s furious:
*”Can you believe it? Now she’s blaming me. I’m breaking my back for my granddaughter, and she makes me out to be the villain!”*
*”What am I supposed to do?”* she frets to her friends. *”Can’t I even say a word when something’s not right? Or am I nothing now? Should I talk to her mother—that old matchmaker? Maybe she’ll knock some sense into her. I didn’t raise my son for this—watching my granddaughter grow up surrounded by this… frivolity.”*
*”What do you think, girls? Am I right to be worried? Or should I just step back? But how can I stand by when Poppy’s being raised by such a flighty woman?”*
