My Mother-in-Law’s Birthday Is on January 1st—How She Surprised Me by Guessing I Was Pregnant, Welcomed Her Long-Awaited Granddaughter, and Gave Us the Gift of a Lifetime

Author Walton MerrittReading 3 minViews 1

My mother-in-law’s birthday falls on the 1st of January, so we went round to see her. Suddenly, she turned to me and asked,

Victoria, are you expecting?

I share a wonderful relationship with my mother-in-law, Margaret. Ive been married for seventeen years, and my husband and I have two sons. Towards the end of last year, I discovered I was pregnant with our third child. I planned to share the news with Margaret on her birthday, but the thought made me anxious.

You see, our family lives by ourselves in a small two-bedroom flat, barely enough space for four of us. At that time, I was already 38a rather mature age to be expecting. In all honesty, I worried Margaret might judge me.

Still, when her birthday arrived, I knew I couldnt keep it from her any longer.

When we got to her home, she almost immediately whisked me off to the kitchen to lend a hand. Margaret is an astute woman, and she noticed something was up at once. I hardly had to say a word.

Her insight astonished me, but what surprised me even more was her response. Margaret was absolutely thrilled and confided in me that shed been secretly hoping for a granddaughter for the longest time.

With her warm blessing, our daughter was born this past summer. For the third time, my mother-in-law proved to be a pillar of supportcaring for the baby, and helping us in every way she could. I was deeply grateful and began to treat Margaret as though she were my own mum.

Winter soon arrived, and once again, we gathered at Margarets for her birthday, now with our little princess in tow. Margaret had taken up quite a bit of baking recently, so my husband and I decided to surprise her with a quality oven.

By the end of the celebration, as we were getting ready to leave, Margaret stopped me and asked for a moment of my attention.

She expressed her heartfelt gratitude for blessing her with a granddaughter and wished to thank us in her own special way. To our amazement, she shared her intention to move into our flat, offering us her two-bedroom home in exchange. I was left speechless. Once again, I realised how fortunate I was to have such a wise and generous mother-in-lawso much more than luck, shed become a true friend to me, which is no small comfort in life.

Today, we continue to live in harmony, grateful for each other. I have the utmost respect for my mother-in-law, and aspire to one day possess a fraction of her wisdom. What Ive learnt is that kindness, understanding, and generosity have the power to transform family bonds into lifelong friendshipsa treasure more valuable than anything money can buy.

Couldn’t Let Myself Fall in Love — So, girls, own up, which one of you is Lily? — The young woman eyed me and my friend, an impish glint in her gaze. — I’m Lily. Why? — I replied, puzzled. — Here’s a letter for you, Lily. From Vladimir, — the stranger dug a crumpled envelope from the pocket of her dressing gown and handed it to me. — From Vladimir? And where is he? — I asked, surprised. — He’s moved on to the adult care home. He waited for you, Lily, like you were heaven sent. He kept watch every day. He gave me this letter to check his spelling, so as not to embarrass himself in front of you. Anyway, I should be going. Lunch is soon. I work here as one of the staff, — she gave me a reproachful look, sighed, and hurried off. …It happened that my friend and I, during the summer holidays, wandered onto the grounds of an unfamiliar institution, craving adventure at sixteen. We found a comfy bench, sat down, and were chatting away when two boys approached us. — Hi, girls! Are you bored? Want to get to know us? — one lad extended his hand, — Vladimir. I answered: — Lily. And that’s my friend, Sue. And your quiet pal, what’s his name? — Leonard, — the other, shyly, replied. The boys struck us as rather old-fashioned and overly proper. Vladimir offered, — Girls, why do you wear such short skirts? And Sue’s neckline is awfully daring. — Well, boys, don’t peek where you shouldn’t. You might lose your heads, — Sue and I burst out laughing. — Hard not to peek. We are men, after all. Do you smoke too? — Vladimir pressed, puritanically. — Of course, but we don’t inhale, — we joked. That’s when we finally noticed something odd about their legs — Vladimir could barely walk, Leonard had a pronounced limp. — You here for treatment? — I guessed. — Yes. I was in a motorbike accident. Leonard took a bad jump into water, — Vladimir recited, as if by rote. — We’ll be leaving soon. Sue and I believed them then; we didn’t realise they were disabled since childhood, fated to live in the care home. We were a breath of freedom for them. They lived and studied in a closed institution, each with a rehearsed tale of accident or misfortune to explain their condition. Vladimir and Leonard turned out to be fascinating, wise beyond their years. Sue and I began visiting every week — partly out of pity, partly because there was so much to learn. Our brief visits soon became routine — Vladimir would bring me flowers picked from the nearest border, Leonard would come with intricate origami for a shy Sue. We’d settle on the bench together: Vladimir next to me, Leonard turning his back, lavishing attention on Sue. Sue blushed, but was obviously charmed by reserved Leonard. We’d chat about everything and nothing. The blissful summer flew by. Autumn arrived, school resumed, and Sue and I completely forgot our chance acquaintances. Exams came and went, as did our graduation. Then, with summer returning, Sue and I decided to visit the care home again, hoping to see Vladimir and Leonard. We waited on the bench, hoping for flowers and origami, but after two hours, it was a stranger who emerged — handing me Vladimir’s letter. I tore it open: “Dearest Lily! My fragrant flower! My unreachable star! Perhaps you didn’t realise I fell for you at first sight. Your visits were the breath of my life. I’ve wasted months staring out my window, waiting for you. You forgot me. How sad! Our paths diverge, but I thank you for showing me true love. I remember your velvet voice, your enticing smile, your gentle hands. My world aches for you, Lily! If only I could see you just once more! Leonard and I have just turned eighteen. We’re being moved to a new care home in spring. We’ll probably never meet again. My soul is torn to shreds! I hope I’ll recover from loving you one day. Farewell, my beautiful!” Signed, “Ever yours, Vladimir”. Alongside the letter lay a dried flower. I felt desperate and ashamed; my heart tight with the knowledge that nothing could be changed. The old saying rang through my mind — “We are responsible for those we tame”. I had never guessed the depth of Vladimir’s passion. Yet, I could not love him back. I harboured only friendly curiosity toward such a clever, knowledgeable companion. Yes, I had teased and flirted, kindling his feelings without realising I was fueling a fire. …Years have swept by. Vladimir’s letter is yellowed, the flower crumbling to dust. Yet I remember those innocent meetings, carefree chats, the laughter sparked by his jokes. …The story goes on. Sue became deeply moved by Leonard’s fate — abandoned by parents for being “different”. She studied teaching, now works in that childhood care home. Leonard is her beloved husband, with two grown sons. As for Vladimir, Leonard says he lived alone. At forty, his mother visited the care home and, struck by remorse, brought him back to her village. Beyond that, the trail is lost…

03

I Just Want to Go Home, Son Victor sat on the little stool out on his London flat’s balcony, lighting a cigarette as a bitter lump formed in his throat. He tried to steady his hands but couldn’t stop the shaking. Never had he imagined the day would come when there wouldn’t be room for him in his own home… “Dad, don’t be so upset!” called out Laura, his eldest daughter. “I’m not asking for much—just give us your room, please! If you can’t do it for me, then think of your grandchildren. They’re about to start school and we’re still all cramped in one room…” “I’m not moving into a care home,” Victor replied calmly. “If you need more space, move in with Michael’s mother. She’s alone in a three-bedroom place—you’d all have your own rooms.” “But you know I’ll never get along with her!” Laura shouted, slamming the balcony door. Victor stroked his old dog, Barney, remembering his late wife, Nadia, and, as his tears rolled down, he thought about the lonely life she’d left him to face. He and Nadia had raised Laura with kindness, hoping she’d turn out caring—but something had gone awry. Laura grew up selfish and cold. Barney whined softly and lay at his master’s feet, sensing Victor’s heartbreak. “Grandad, do you not love us?” asked his eight-year-old grandson, entering the room. “Of course I do! Who said otherwise?” Victor replied, surprised. “Then why don’t you want to leave? Aren’t you being greedy, keeping your room from me and Kostya?” the boy snapped, echoing Laura’s words. Victor realised Laura had turned the child against him. “Alright, I’ll go,” he answered quietly. “You can have the room.” Everyone in the house seemed to resent him, even Barney was no longer welcome. “Are you serious?” Laura ran in, delighted. “Yes,” Victor whispered. “Just promise you’ll look after Barney. I feel like a traitor…” “Oh, stop it—he’ll be fine. We’ll take him for walks and visit you at weekends,” Laura promised. “I found the perfect care home for you—you’ll like it there.” Two days later, Victor arrived at the care home, only to find Laura had lied about its comforts. It was a dreary council facility filled with neglected old folk. He unpacked his few belongings and sat outside, nearly in tears. “New arrival?” an elderly woman named Valerie asked, joining him. “Yes,” Victor sighed. “Don’t worry—once you settle in, things seem less awful. My nephew put me here after I signed my flat over to him. Well, at least I’m not homeless…” They spent the evening reminiscing. Valerie offered Victor companionship, bringing a little joy to his otherwise dreary days. But Victor longed for home—and hoped Laura would come for him, or at least let him speak to Barney. Calls went unanswered. One day, Victor spotted his neighbour Stephen by the entrance—he was shocked to find Victor there. “Your daughter’s lied to everyone, saying you moved to the countryside. I always thought something was off—especially since Barney’s been outside your old building for days,” Stephen said. “She put Barney in a shelter and now she’s moving, renting out your flat. What happened?” Victor explained everything, wishing he could undo his rash decision. “I just want to go home, son,” Victor whispered. “I’m a solicitor—I help people in your situation. Have you been officially signed out of your flat?” Stephen asked. “No, unless Laura did it herself. I don’t know what to expect anymore.” “Pack your things—I’ve got my car out front. We can’t let this stand!” Victor hurriedly packed, promising Valerie he’d return for her someday. On arriving at his old flat, he found it locked and Laura gone. Stephen took him home, and with his legal help, Victor reclaimed his rights to the property. “She won’t give up, but there’s one solution: sell the flat, give Laura her share, and buy yourself a small cottage in the country.” “Perfect!” Victor beamed. Three months later, he moved into a cosy country home, with Barney by his side. “Wait, first I must visit Valerie,” Victor insisted. He found her sitting on their old care home bench, gazing into the distance. “Valerie, come with Barney and me! There’s space, fresh air, fishing—please say yes.” She hesitated. “Just stand up and come with us. There’s nothing left for us here,” Victor laughed. Valerie agreed, tears of joy filling her eyes. Against the odds and cruelty, Victor and Valerie proved there are still good people in the world. They fought for their right to happiness and finally found peace—reminding us kindness will always outshine selfishness.

04

“When Was the Last Time You Looked at Yourself in the Mirror?” Her Husband Asked—But His Wife’s Unexpected Reaction Changed Everything Alex finished his morning coffee, half-watching Marina. Her hair pulled back in a child’s scrunchie—little cartoon cats. But Kseniya from next door? Always bright, fresh, smelling of expensive perfume that lingered in the lift after she left. “You know,” Alex put aside his phone, “sometimes I think we live like… well, like neighbours.” Marina stopped, cloth frozen in her hand. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Oh, nothing. Just… when was the last time you looked in the mirror?” She looked at him, carefully. Alex felt things were going off script. “When was the last time you really looked at me?” Marina asked softly. Awkward silence. “Come on, Marina, don’t be dramatic. I’m just saying—a woman should look her best. Simple as that! Look at Kseniya, and she’s your age.” “Ah,” said Marina. “Kseniya.” Something changed in her voice—a revelation. “Alex,” she said after a pause, “you know what? I’ll stay with Mum for a bit. Have a think about what you said.” “Fine. Let’s live apart for now, think it over. But I’m not kicking you out!” “You know,” she hung the cloth up with care, “maybe I really do need to look in the mirror.” She went to pack her suitcase. Alex sat in the kitchen thinking, “Damn, isn’t this what I wanted?” Only, it didn’t feel like victory—just emptiness. Three days passed like a holiday. Coffee in the morning, evenings as he pleased. No romantic dramas streaming on TV. Freedom, right? Long-awaited manly freedom. One evening, Alex saw Kseniya at the entrance, hauling gourmet grocery bags, heels clicking, dress fitting perfectly. “Alex!” she smiled. “How are you? Haven’t seen Marina in ages.” “She’s at her mum’s. Resting,” he lied. “Ah.” Kseniya nodded knowingly. “You know, women need a break sometimes. From the routine, the housework.” She said it as if she’d never met a dust bunny—her dinner probably materialised at the snap of her fingers. “Ksenia, maybe coffee sometime? Neighbour-to-neighbour?” Alex blurted. “Why not?” she smiled. “Tomorrow evening?” That night, Alex planned his outfit—shirt or polo, jeans or trousers, not too much aftershave. Next morning, the phone rang. “Alex? It’s Mrs Vasilyeva, Marina’s mum.” His heart skipped. “Marina asked me to tell you: she’ll collect her things Saturday when you’re out. She’ll leave the keys with the concierge.” “Wait—collect her things?” “What did you expect?” her voice was steel. “My daughter won’t spend her life waiting for you to decide if she matters.” “I didn’t mean it like that—” “You said enough. Goodbye, Alex.” She hung up. Alex sat in the kitchen, staring at his phone. What the hell? He wasn’t divorcing—just asking for a pause, time to think. But apparently his family decided for him. Coffee with Kseniya felt odd. She was pleasant, stories about banking, laughed at his jokes. But when he reached for her hand, she gently drew away. “Alex, you know—I can’t. You’re still married.” “But we’re… living apart.” “Today, maybe. What about tomorrow?” Kseniya eyed him carefully. Alex walked her to the door, then upstairs. His flat greeted him with silence and the scent of bachelorhood. Saturday. Alex left home—no scenes, no tears, let her take the stuff in peace. But by three in the afternoon, curiosity gnawed at him. What did she take? Everything? Or just essentials? By four, he couldn’t stand it. He headed home. In front of the building—a car with local plates. At the wheel, a stranger, about forty, well-dressed, helping someone load boxes. Alex perched on the bench and waited. Ten minutes later, out came a woman in a blue dress. Dark hair, not a cartoon scrunchie but a stylish clip. Subtle makeup, made her eyes pop. Alex stared—was this Marina? His Marina—only not. She carried the last bag, and the man quickly helped her, like handling crystal. Alex couldn’t hold back. He walked over. “Marina!” She turned. Her face was calm, beautiful—no trace of the exhaustion he’d grown used to. “Hi, Alex.” “Is that… you?” The driver tensed, but Marina eased his arm—don’t worry. “It’s me,” she said simply. “You just stopped seeing me a long time ago.” “Marina, wait—can’t we talk?” “About what?” No anger, just surprise. “You said a woman should always look stunning. I listened.” “But, I didn’t mean it like that!” Alex’s heart thumped. “So what did you mean, Alex?” Marina tilted her head. “You wanted me beautiful—but only for you? Interesting—but only at home? To love myself, but not so much that I could leave a husband who doesn’t see me?” He listened and every word turned something inside him. “You know,” she continued gently, “I realised I had stopped taking care of myself. Not out of laziness, but because I’d become invisible. In my own home, my own life.” “Marina, I didn’t want—” “Oh, you did. You wanted a wife-invisible, who does everything but doesn’t disturb your life. And when you get bored—you can upgrade to a flashier model.” The man in the car said something quietly. Marina nodded. “We should go,” she told Alex. “Vladimir’s waiting.” “Vladimir?” Alex’s mouth went dry. “Who’s he?” “A man who sees me,” Marina answered. “Met him at the gym. There’s a new fitness centre near mum’s. Can you believe—it took me forty-two years to start working out for the first time?” “Marina, don’t—let’s try again. I get it, I was a fool.” “Alex,” she looked at him closely, “do you remember the last time you told me I was beautiful?” He couldn’t. “Or asked about my day?” Alex realised—he’d lost. Not to Vladimir or circumstance. To himself. Vladimir started the engine. “Alex, I’m not angry. Truly. You helped me learn something valuable: if I don’t see myself, no one else will.” The car pulled away. Alex stood by the entrance, watching his life drive off. Not his wife—his life. Fifteen years of “routine”, he thought. And only now did he realise it had been happiness. Only he’d never noticed. Half a year later, Alex bumped into Marina at the mall, by the coffee shelf. She was reading labels, suntanned, light blouse, new haircut. Next to her, a twenty-something girl. “Try this one,” she said. “Dad says arabica is better than robusta.” “Marina?” Alex approached. She turned, smiled—easy, relaxed. “Hi, Alex. Meet Nastya, Vladimir’s daughter. Nastya, this is Alex, my ex-husband.” Nastya nodded politely—pretty, probably a student, watching with curiosity, not hostility. “How are you?” he said. “Good. You?” “Alright.” Awkward pause. What do you say to your ex-wife, who’s changed so much? They stood by the coffee shelves. Alex looked at her—happy, truly happy. “And you?” she asked. “How’s your love life?” “Nothing special,” he admitted. Marina studied him. “You know, Alex—you want a woman as beautiful as Kseniya, as obedient as I was. Clever, but not so clever she catches you eyeing others.” Nastya listened, eyes wide. “That woman doesn’t exist,” Marina finished gently. “Nastya, let’s go?” the girl said. “Dad’s waiting in the car.” “Yes, of course.” Marina grabbed a pack of coffee. “Good luck, Alex.” They left. Alex stood among the shelves, thinking—she was right. He was chasing a woman who didn’t exist. That evening, Alex sat in his kitchen, sipping tea, thinking of Marina, how she’d changed. Sometimes, losing something is the only way to see its true value. Maybe happiness isn’t about searching for a convenient wife, but learning to truly see the woman standing beside you.

08

📌 Useful Social Services & Contacts in the U.S.

Stay informed and get help when you need it. Below are key national services with direct contacts that may support you or your loved ones:
🏥 Health & Mental Support

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

What they do: Free and confidential help with substance use and mental health disorders.

Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) – 24/7, anonymous support

Website: samhsa.gov

🧒 Support for Children & Families

WIC – Women, Infants, and Children Program

What they do: Nutritional and healthcare support for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

Federal Info Line: 1-800-522-5006

Find local WIC office: fns.usda.gov/wic

My Mother-in-Law’s Birthday Is on January 1st—How She Surprised Me by Guessing I Was Pregnant, Welcomed Her Long-Awaited Granddaughter, and Gave Us the Gift of a Lifetime