My husband and I left our flat to our son and moved out to the countryside. He moved in with his mother-in-law and let out our former place.
My husband and I got married at 23. In fact, I was already expecting our son by the time of the wedding. We both graduated from university, studying Education. Neither of us came from wealthy familiesthere were no rich fathers or uncles to help us along, so everything we achieved came from our own hard work.
We started working immediately. From almost the moment he was born, our son was fed on formula. Whether it was the stress or a rather plain diet, as a young mum, I couldn’t breastfeed. Our son went to nursery when he was just about 11 months old. Thats where he learned to eat with a spoon, use the potty, and sleep without having to be rocked. Meanwhile, both my husband and I needed to work.
At first, we lived in a rented flat, then managed a one-room place, and eventually saved up for a proper two-bedroom flat. Being country people at heart, we always wanted a bit of land, so a few years ago, we bought a plot. My husband built a small two-room cottage, brick by brick. We installed a cooker, levelled the garden, and bought some basic furniture.
Everything seemed set. Just us, finally able to enjoy life. Were now 46, feeling like life is just beginning. But family traits run deep. Our son, at 23, decided he wanted to get married too. His fiancée is from a wealthy family; she and our son both studied law. They announced theyd be tying the knot.
And so it began. She wanted an expensive restaurant, a limousine, a grand honeymoon, their own flatthe whole works.
Ever since our son was born, Ive battled the feeling that perhaps we never gave him enough love. He started nursery early, then school. My husband and I were always busy, as is often the case with teachers. We constantly looked after other peoples children, while our own had to spend more time alone. Sadly, his grandparents lived far away, and he grew up like that. Still, we tried to make up for it materiallyexpensive toys, comfy armchairs, fashionable clothes, paid-for education, even bought him a car for his eighteenth birthday.
Now, we chose to support him further. Every single penny wed managed to save went towards his wedding. After a long discussion, we decided to give him a flat as a gift. We thought he shouldnt have to struggle as we did. His brides parents pitched in too, buying her luxury itemsfurs, jewellery, the lot. We even replaced all the furniture in the flat. Her family has an enormous house in the country, three storeys, fitted out with luxury furniture and fancy cars.
Gradually, our son began to drift away from us. Then hed visit only once a month; eventually, he stopped phoning at all. My brother-in-law got him a job at a firm as well.
Then, by chance, my husband and I bumped into a neighbour at the market. She told us that our son hadnt lived in our flat for ages. He and his wife had moved in with her mother, and our flat was now being rented out. My husband was devastated. I tried to comfort him. I rang our son straight away, but he was shockingly rudesaid wed handed over the flat ourselves, reminded us that wed never been well-off anyway. He yelled that he was always the underdog, blamed us for allowing him and his wife a better life than we had, saying it embarrassed him to be sponging off his mother-in-law when his own parents were just teachers.
Determined to stand up to the unfairness and selfishness, my husband and I went to see a solicitor. He explained that as we hadn’t made an official deed of gift, our son’s actions were unlawful. The legal owner is the only one who can rent out the property.
We decided not to take our son to court. Instead, we gave the tenants a month to make arrangements and explained the situation. Thankfully, they were understanding and moved out on time without any fuss. Weve moved back into the flat, but have had no contact with our son since. Both my husband and I are left hurt and full of resentment. Maybe, in time, well find a way to forgive.
