Oh, That Grandma—Got Married, Upset the Kids! Every weekend, Alison, as always, travelled to her m…

Oh, that grandmothermarried off and offended her children!
Every weekend, Helen, as usual, went to visit her mother. Mum is seventy-eight now and has lived alone for years.
Within two days, Helen managed to clean the house and wash the linens. Theres no automatic washing machine or running water indoors. In summer, she even tackles the garden.
You should move in with me, love, life would be easier. You never get a moments rest, her mother often said.
Mum, Ive got my job, my daughter, and the grandkids, Helen would reply with a weary sigh.
Stevens returned. Hes removed the boards from the windows of his house. The place sat empty for almost five years after the death of Margaret. He says hes wandered about and now wants to settle here for good. Asked about youno doubt hell drop by to see you soon, Mum shared the latest news.
Steven, Steven… He was Helens school crush. She adored him, but he never seemed to notice. In their last year, Helen took a desperate chanceshe dropped the bucket in the garden well and ran to Steven for help, saying shed catch it from her mother if he didnt fish it out.
Steven grabbed a pole and got to work. He spent half an hour wrestling by the icy well, but retrieved the bucket.
Think the old superstition will come true? he chuckled as he left.
For whom you retrieve a bucket, youll become their belovedthat was the village girls magic.
Steven was right. The superstition didn’t work out.
He left for the city, graduated from university, moved all over the country. Married, divorced and now, hed come home.
After school, Helen attended a business college in a nearby town. She still works as an accountant. She married, had a beloved daughter named Emily. Eight years ago, Helen was widowed.
Steven visited one evening. He was older, greyer, certainly changed.
And youre still as beautiful as ever, he said, hugging Helen.
Look at you, learning to flatter in your old age. Like you, Im well past fifty, and have aged, just like everyone else, Helen replied, cutting him off.
They sat in the gazebo, sipping a little homemade sloe gin as a toast to their reunion, chatting for hours.
Steven spoke of his marriageshed had two wives and parted amicably with each. He never mistreated either woman, left them with their flats and all their shared belongings.
He had a grown son from his first marriage. The boy now lives in Germany with his mother, who was from a family of émigré Germans.
The second wife filed for divorce herself, falling for a younger man. Steven hadnt tried to stop her. They had no children together.
Now hes retired, drawing a pension from working up north and hazardous jobs. He plans to form a local building crewrenovating and constructing homes, garden sheds, and undertaking repairs. Theres plenty of demand, and hes got his start-up money ready.
Ive rattled on about myself, but how are you? Heard youve been left alone, Steven pressed.
Helen, surprisingly, shared her tale. It seemed the right moment, maybe because she needed to let it outor perhaps the sloe gin gave her courage.
Im not alone, Steven. My family is quite large. But in this family, I live more as a servant, you might say, Helen began.
Emily, my daughter, never wanted to study after schoolshe married straight away. The son-in-law moved in, too. Weve got a three-bedroom flat, space enough for everyone. Then Emily had her first daughter, Lucy.
Somehow, the household chores became entirely my responsibilitymy sacred duty, it seemed. My daughter was depressed, with a little child.
My late husband was goldenhe helped and cared for me. He never complained about his health, but one morning he didnt wake up. That really knocked me down, though I never had the time to grieve.
I kept working, keeping the home afloat. Expenses went up. My son-in-law earns little. All my money goes into the shared budget. I hoped Lucy would grow up, Emily would send her to nursery, get a job, and Id finally catch a break. But then When Lucy was four, Emily had another girl, Molly.
Now Lucys in school, Molly is five, and Emily stays at home.
In the morning, I cook breakfast for the son-in-law and the children, get Lucy ready for school. The little one stays home with her mother. Well, with her mother is debatable. Molly plays quietly by herself or watches TV. Shes calm, and her mother sleeps until noon.
I walk Lucy to school and head to work. In the evening, I prepare meals for the next day, help with homework, do laundry and tidy up.
Ive tried talking to Emily, telling her Im not young anymore, and its time she pitched in. Its useless. Shes always tired with the kids.
My son-in-law is happy as things are. Mother-in-law works, theres money to cover expenses, so he doesnt have to bother. Plus, we get vegetables from the countryside.
Hed help in the garden, but the problem isno car. He hints that I should lend money for a car. They know I have savings, but Im afraid to hand over my last penny and end up with nothing. My savings wouldnt even cover a car.
Im exhausted. I realise Im to blameI raised a lazy, shameless daughter. I see it all, but cant break out of this circle.
Thats some tale Dont lose heart, Helen. Well figure something out. Lets head home, days breaking, Steven said his goodbyes and left.
On Sunday evening, he drove her back to the city in his car. Helen was delighted at all the provisions shed managed to bring from the village. Steven helped haul the sacks and bags into the flat.
When he left, Emily asked, Where did you find that old chap?
Helen explained he was an old classmate and set about sorting the vegetables.
Two weeks later, Steven returned around midday and began carrying out bags Helen had pre-packed. Her sleepy son-in-law and daughter poked their heads from their bedroom.
Whats going on? Whats all this? they asked in unison.
Im leaving you, getting married. Im moving back to the village to spend my last days with Steven, Helen replied calmly.
Youve really gone mad now! Getting married? At your age! Whos going to cook lunch? Your granddaughters will soon be starving! Emily protested, incredulous.
My dear, from now on youll have to feed your daughtersand your husbandyourself. Ive spent ten years living for you, and now I want to live for myself. Its time for you to step up, Helen answered, not unkindly.
You traitor! I forbid you from seeing my girls! Emily shrieked.
Im not planning to see them for a whileIll have plenty to do. Besides, over the years, Ive seen them much more than you have, Helen said and left.
Naturally, she cried in the car.
I shouldve warned them I was leaving, she told Steven.
Youd have got the same response, just longer and harsher. Sometimes you have to break away, even if its painful. They were too dependent on youyou had to do it this way, Steven replied.
Helen made Stevens house cosy. He built a proper heated loo and installed a shower cabin. They still haul in water and empty the septic tank twice a month, but those are just minor inconveniences.
Helen got a job as caretaker at the local school. The pays lower, but life is much more peaceful. Steven keeps busy with his building crew. Theres never a shortage of work. Theyre happy, living together quietly and contentedly.
About a month later, her son-in-law brought the girls to visit for the weekend. Lucy confided to her grandmother that her parents often argue. Dad makes soup, but he doesnt know how to cook much else. Mum is considering work, but hasnt decided what to do.
Her son-in-law wanted to leave Molly in the village, but Helen refused. I work, and so does Steven. Children should live with their parents. Happy to have them visit, but its your responsibility to raise them. You had kids for yourselves, not for me.
Her son-in-law and Emily took offence, but the next weekend the grandchildren returned for another visit.
Were just here for the weekend, her son-in-law explained, but he stayed as well, missing his mother-in-laws cooking.
Such is the story.
Some will say Helen was harsh to her daughter.
Others will call it fair.
As many opinions as there are people.
For myself, I learned that even late in life, its possible to find your own happiness if youre brave enough to break free from expectations and live, finally, for yourself.