Ian? Theresa Whitaker peered at the man next door, eyebrows raised. Are you really at home? I thought you were in London. Laura mentioned youd be away for two weeks.
Ive caught a cold, grumbled Ian Mercer, closing the door and turning to her.
Something serious? she asked, voice soft.
Nothing dramatic! Ian snapped, a little embarrassed. Coughed a couple of times, and now everyone thinks Im a walking plague. Stay away, youll infect the baby! they shouted. So Im back. Laura had to foot the bill herself. She went out for a night out.
And how long are you planning to live like this? Theresa said with a hint of sarcasm. Getting bored yet?
What do you mean? Ian frowned.
He didnt like strangers prying into his family life, but today he let slip.
Rotational work!
Oh, come off it, Theresa, Ian retorted, crooked grin in place. What does a shift system have to do with us? Were not commuting to a job. For us its a bit of fun.
Fun? she shot back. Youve both been acting like youve just been dumped in a river! Celebrate! When will you stop making a mockery of yourselves? No ones going to applaud that!
***
Ian and Lauras daughter, Leah, had spent almost a year after university hunting for a job in her field. Every offer was either too far away, paid peanuts, or just plain boring.
Her parents kept telling her shed find the right spot eventually.
But time ticked on and the dream job stayed a dream.
Finally, Leah decided to move to London. A university mate had just landed a role there and invited her to go together. There are still openings, and its nicer with a buddy less scary heading off to a new city, she said.
Ian and Laura werent thrilled. They argued that she could get a decent position at home; she just needed patience.
Besides, Leah had never lived on her own and had little idea what that meant. Renting a flat in London was pricey, and they wondered who would pick up the tab and for how long?
In short, no matter how much Ian and Laura pleaded, Leah promised to call every day and swing by often, often, then packed her bags for London.
She got a decent job and a place to stay in a student hall no rent required. The idea of paying for a flat seemed as farfetched as winning the lottery.
At first Leah visited home frequently, missing the familiar. Over time the trips thinned, and contact dwindled to occasional phone calls.
She fell in love.
Her romance with Londoner Callum blossomed quickly, and before long they were talking about marriage. Leah confided to her parents that she was expecting a baby, and Ian and Laura floated on cloud nine.
***
After the wedding the young couple moved into a flat of their own. Callum flatly refused to live with his parents, which ruffled them, but they didnt argue. If you want independence, have at it. Just dont expect us to foot the bill, they said.
Callum smirked.
Im not counting on that!
Why so? Leah chided gently when they were alone. Those are your folks. What if something goes wrong?
No worries! Callum hugged her. Everything will be fine.
***
And indeed, everything ran like a welloiled kettle. They earned good salaries, the pregnancy went smoothly, and Leah went on maternity leave, giving birth to a healthy, rosycheeked baby girl.
Grandparents were over the moon, popping round each week. Leahs own parents visited when they could; her father was close to retirement, and her mother still had five years left on her career.
All was rosy until Callum lost his job. Not exactly lost he quit, confident another firm would snatch him up with better prospects. At the last minute the position went to someone else.
The setback hit him hard. He withdrew, turned to the bottle, became irritable, perpetually dissatisfied, and eventually sank into a deep depression that required a stint in a clinic.
Leah was torn between husband and child. Callum began demanding more attention than their twoyearold, Lily, could ever give.
And then there was the motherinlaw.
She kept reminding Leah that shed abandoned her son, that she wasnt looking after him proper, even though she was practically living off his back.
On whose neck? Leah asked, baffled. Im on maternity leave!
So stop sitting at home! Lilys two! Get a job! Do you plan to live off us forever?
Leah stared, wondering whether the woman was being sincere or just grumbling. Callum had been unemployed for half a year. Their savings were thin, the pension from Leahs parents barely covered the mortgage, yet the motherinlaw scolded her for a slice of bread.
It hurt, but Leah endured. One day she confided everything to her own parents.
Ian and Laura listened and suggested looking for a nursery, just in case.
First, itll take time, Laura said, drawing on her experience.
And if the motherinlaw has raised this, she probably wont back down, Ian added.
But Lilys still tiny! Leah sniffed. Which nursery?
We sent our own daughter to a crèche when she was a year and a half, Laura smiled. Look at her now!
Mum! tears welled in Leahs eyes. So you couldve done it then! And now? Why should I hurt my child because of a stubborn granny?
Look, dear, Ian interjected, well help however we can.
Laura, hearing this, shrugged and thought, What can we actually do? Theyre 435 miles away!
***
Whenever turned out sooner than expected. A nursery spot opened up quickly. Leah told her boss shed be ready to return in a month.
At that very moment Callum found a decent job.
All that remained was easing Lily into the nursery
The staff told Leah to start with one hour, then two, then a halfday. Simple on paper, a nightmare in practice.
The moment Lily saw the nursery building she began screaming at the top of her lungs not crying, but shouting. She kept at it for a whole week, only pausing briefly in the changing room, then resuming as soon as she sensed her mother leaving.
They tried having Callum take her, same result. Then both parents together, bribing, distracting, promising the moon. Nothing worked.
A few times they left her alone hoping shed settle, but she kept wailing as if she knew they were just out of sight.
Eventually the carers, exasperated, said:
Dont worry, this happens. Bring her back in a couple of months, let her grow a bit. Well keep the place for you.
Easy for you to say in a couple of months, Leah protested on the way home. But I need to get back to work! Ive already taken time off! What now?
I dont know, Callum muttered, but torturing the child isnt right.
Your parents are retired! Leah thought, a lightbulb flashing. They live not far away. Maybe they could take Lily to the nursery for a while?
Ill talk to them, Callum said thoughtfully, though Im not sure theyll agree.
Make them agree, Leah urged.
Grandparents reminded Callum that hed promised to sort his own problems, yet what wouldnt a grandparent do for a beloved grandchild?
They took turns shuttling Lily to the nursery, andmiracle of miraclesshe walked in calmly, waving goodbye with a tiny hand.
The real comedy began when, at nap time, Lily flatout refused to lie down. The carers called the grandparents, who would either fly in or send the granddad. The routine settled, and Lily only stayed until noon.
Soon the grandparents found the arrangement too taxing, citing back pain, high blood pressure, and a sore neck.
We need a watchful eye on that child, and my blood pressure is through the roof! moaned Callums mother. My husbands back is killing him
I know, Callum replied gloomily, but what now? Youve trained her to leave at twelve while were at work
And you dont even say thank you! the motherinlaw exploded. Look how weve spent almost a year babysitting her!
It wasnt a year, Leah corrected, only a few months, and that was your idea in the first place. We handed her over. Shed still be homebound otherwise.
So were to blame too?! Callums mother shouted, grabbing his arm and dragging him toward the hallway.
***
What now? Callum asked when the front door slammed behind his parents.
I dont know, Leah shrugged, maybe Ill have to quit my job.
Thats not an option.
Then what do you suggest?
Take Lily to the nursery and leave her there until evening.
And the next morning? Youll drag her yourself? I wont be part of that!
But all the other children go without a hitch!
Our daughter isnt all the other children! Leah wailed.
Just then her phone rang. Her mother, Laura, was on the line.
Ill be there tomorrow! Laura promised, her voice bright. Im on holiday and was planning to visit. So weve got about a month to sort this out.
Leah clapped her hands like a child.
Mums coming tomorrow! she announced to Callum. Were saved.
Brilliant! Callum replied cheerfully. Time to get to know the motherinlaw properly. Hope well get along.
Of course we will, Leah smiled. My mums practically a worldclass problem solver. Shell think of something.
Laura indeed devised a plan. She and Ian would alternate trips to watch Lily, since the inlaws couldnt.
Dont take it personally, love, she advised, eyeing Callum, age catches up with you. You had strength, now youve got a few wrinkles.
Im not offended, Leah said, wiping a tear. But how will you both get here with work?
Ill shuffle my schedule, and Ian becomes a pensioner in two weeks. All will be fine. By the time he arrives, Lily will be a proper fouryearold who can stroll into the nursery on her own.
So it was settled.
In the morning Laura escorted Lily to the nursery; Lily settled without a fuss. After twelve, Laura got a call that she needed to pick her up.
And so, for nearly a year, Ian and Laura have been shuttling back and forth to London, swapping visits every two weeks. Ian, now retired and free, sometimes stays longer, driving Lily to the nursery, collecting her at noon, and then strolling around the city until his parents arrive from work.
One evening, Ian complained to his neighbour, Theresa, about the younger generation.
They never lift a finger, he grumbled. No cooking, no cleaning, just ordering takeaway. Lily spends all day glued to rubbish cartoons, then throws a tantrum. Talking to them feels pointless. They think their opinion is gospel. How do you put up with that?
I just keep busy, Laura sighed. Ill find any little job to keep my mind occupied: laundry, cleaning, baking. What can we do? The youngsters today are a different breed. I feel sorry for Lily I cant imagine her without us.
When will she start school?
No idea, Laura sighed.
Theresa Whitaker, a former teacher, heard the whole saga from Laura and tried to lend support, but the former educator was less than sympathetic.
Are you serious, Laura? A threeyearold is pulling the strings, and you two are just running after her? She doesnt want to nap in the nursery? Leave her there in the morning and shell whine for two days, then get over it! Shell learn that its pointless to protest.
I cant do it like that, Laura retorted. I feel sorry for her.
Sorry? You created the problem Not your soninlaw, you lot. Youd better sort it yourselves before she goes to school. Will you be there, sitting at her desk? In short, I dont approve of your parenting. Wake up before its too late.
Later Theresa decided to voice her grievance directly to Ian.
Ian Mercer, are you planning to set your house in order?
Order? Ian echoed.
Yes. Your granddaughter is being run around like a puppet, your daughter is exploiting her parents, your soninlaw dumped his responsibilities on you, and you two are still hopping every two weeks over 435 miles, while you just stand there watching.
Now youve been kicked out of the house for daring to cough. Who kicked you out, your own daughter?
My daughter, Ian replied automatically.
They respect you, basically but have you become the unreliable grandparents, neighbours? Maybe its time to hand back the responsibility to those who gladly shifted it onto you. Why are you so quiet, Ian? Nothing to say?
Im quiet, Theresa, Ian said, his tone softening. Because I dont see how its any of your business. I never asked you for advice, so stop meddling.
Theresa fell silent, and Ian, taking the pause, added calmly:
We love our daughter and granddaughter. Our love knows no borders. We help as long as we can.
He smiled and walked down the stairs at his leisurely pace.
Theresa stood there, her urge to argue fading.
Honestly, why did I get involved? she thought. People just want to wreck a grandchilds life and poison their own. Its not my concern
What do you think, is she right?
