I never had a formal marriage, but I gave birth to my son in what is called “sin” and decided that I would lay down my life for the sake of the child. I thought, and was, the best mother in the world.
We lived with the same man, it must have been so convenient for him, because I had my own apartment from my youth (my rich father did his best). That’s how I got used to this guy. He didn’t ask me to marry, and never mind, marriage wasn’t very fashionable in the ’90s. When my son was born, I got bored with the guy, because my son became my whole universe. I didn’t even notice how my roommate started cheating, and then I sent him away, I didn’t even file for alimony.
My son and I didn’t have a need, as long as my dad was alive, he provided for us completely. My mother said that I was bringing up my child badly, that I was totally pampering him, I needed to be tougher. I tried, but it did not work, because if his cheek appears at least a tear, I immediately melted and fulfill all his whims.
When my son went to school, my daddy died, and I had to rely only on myself, so I went to work. Despite the fact that “the baby” was already a teenager, I tried to finish work as soon as possible, so my boss would let me go home. By that time I had mastered the computer and worked with the papers: if I did everything quickly during the day, I was allowed to leave early. I would immediately run through the store to get something delicious for my son.
My son’s army was the hardest test for me. I had to pay the right person to have my son serve close to home. Of course, every weekend I would rush to him with bags full of goodies, and I was even scolded for it, saying that my coworkers were probably teasing my boy because he was a “mama’s boy”. It was my happiest day when my son returned from the army and I threw a feast for his friends! The guys and girls came over, and there was one girl I noticed, a beautiful girl, but she had such a heavy, sizzling look in her eyes. It makes me want to pull my head into my shoulders. Oh, if I’d known she was going to be my son’s wife. And what a wife.
My son really lost his head from her. He was carrying flowers, spent half his salary on a small bottle of expensive perfume, invented some surprises, like a winch to her window. I was happy about his success in his personal life, but my inner voice told me that I should not expect anything good from this union. When my son decided to get married, he said that the wedding would be according to the bride’s scenario, and he had to earn a lot to make it all happen. My mother and I took pity on our groom and gave him a large sum of money we had saved, which went to the whims of our daughter-in-law.
I let the newlyweds live in my apartment, or rather I just went to my mom. Literally after a couple of days started re-equipping my apartment, where I had no place: one room – their bedroom, and another – a living room with a wide table in the middle. Even the couch there is not fold-out, short, not to sleep on. My sister-in-law started to cringe when I came over. And not all the time I wanted to snuggle up to my son, and she got angry with these “calf tenderness. Then I began to notice that she ignored everything – my advice, my conversations, she would not even smile at my jokes. She will grin and turn away. My mother and I stopped being invited to the holidays because they have exclusively youthful company.
When my granddaughter was born, my mother and I did not go to them at all. The child is supposedly allergic to cats, and we are with their jackets and cat hair on them brings the infection into the house. It is clear that it was her idea. When I took offense and dared to admonish my daughter-in-law about it, she got mad and made a sobbing scene with my son. My mother and I have been Enemy No. 1 to her ever since.
And a year ago my mom died and I was all alone, and the fight never went away. My son secretly comes to visit me and begs me not to tell anyone about it, or rumors will spread and they will reach his wife. He has become very thin and battered.
Where did I miss in his upbringing, what did I miss? Why am I being treated this way?
