She Got My Mother-in-Law Back on Her Feet—But I’m Angry Because I Didn’t Weed the Garden Beds “What are you doing here?” My mother-in-law shouted, standing smack in the middle of the flower beds. “There’s never been such disgrace in this house! I never had to hide behind a child; I had seven—and not a single weed!” Her shout brought the neighbours running. They crowded by the fence like crows, immediately discussing everything they overheard. Seeing her audience, my mother-in-law carried on, relishing the drama. She said all sorts, and I just stood there, stunned. Finally, exhausted by her outburst, she took a breath and declared loudly enough for every neighbour to hear. I didn’t say a word. Silently, I walked past her, holding my child even tighter. Back inside, I went to the wardrobe and sorted everything my mother-in-law would need that evening and the next morning into a special box. Without folding them, I tossed my son’s things and mine into a bag. I left, without a word. Three days later, my mother-in-law rang: “What did you do with all those things the professor gave her? I asked the neighbour to buy a few things, but she said one jar is ridiculously expensive. And the ones with foreign writing? We won’t swap or spend a penny on those. So what am I supposed to do? You took off, offended at who knows what, and I’m left here to meet my maker!” I didn’t reply. I turned off my phone and took out the SIM card. That’s it. I can’t go on. I haven’t a scrap of physical or mental strength left. A year ago, just before my son was born, my husband lost control of his car on a wet road. My memories are blurred—how I said goodbye at the funeral, how the ambulance came, and the next morning I became a mother. Nothing mattered. My beloved husband was gone and everything else felt pointless. I fed and rocked my baby as if on autopilot, just because that’s what I was told to do. Then one day, the phone rang: “Your mother-in-law is in a bad way. They say she won’t survive her son long.” I made my decision instantly. As soon as I was discharged, I sold my flat in London. I invested some of the money into building a new home, so my son would have something of his own one day. And I went to save my mother-in-law. This past year I haven’t lived—I’ve simply existed. I had no time for sleep, caring for both my mother-in-law and my young son. The baby was restless, and my mother-in-law needed me there round the clock. Thank goodness I had enough money. I called in the finest specialists from across the country to examine her. I bought everything they prescribed, and eventually she returned to a normal life. At first, I wheeled her around the house, then the garden. By the end, she became strong enough to walk on her own—and then… I don’t want to know her anymore or hear from her again. She can figure out whatever she needs for recovery herself. At least I was wise enough not to spend all my money on her. My son and I have moved into our new flat. I never imagined this is how things would turn out. All I wanted was to build a life with my husband’s mother, since I’m an orphan. But now I’m done. I just need to teach my son: not everyone deserves kindness. Some people care more about a weed-free garden than family.

I managed to get my mother-in-law back on her feet. But Im still cross with myself because I didnt get round to weeding the vegetable patch.

What on earth do you think youre doing? my mother-in-law bellowed, standing right in the middle of the swan beds. Weve never had such a disgrace on this property. And dont think you can hide behind that childI had seven of my own and not a single weed spoiled my garden!

Her shouting drew the neighbours, who crowded along the fence like crows and immediately began discussing everything theyd overheard. Sensing her audience, my mother-in-law really let herself go, saying things she knew would hit home. I just stood there speechless. Eventually, out of breath from all the racket, she took a deep breath and, loud enough for the whole street to hear, shouted:

I could drop dead right here, and you wouldnt even notice!

I didnt say a word.

I quietly walked past her, clutching my child closer. Once inside, I went to the wardrobe, sorted out everything my mother-in-law would need for that evening and the next morning into a special box. Without bothering to fold them, I stuffed my sons and my own things into a bag. I left the house without so much as a word to her.

Three days later, my mother-in-law rang.

What did you do with all those things the doctor prescribed for me? she asked. I asked the neighbour to pick up a few bits for me, but she said one jar was outrageously expensive. And there are a few that are labelled in foreign languages, so we neither buy them nor swap them. So, what am I supposed to do? You left without a word, took offence over something, and now Im left here, ready to meet my maker.

I said nothing. I switched off my phone and removed the SIM card. That was it; I couldnt go on, I simply didnt have the strength, not in body or mind.

A year ago, just before my son was born, my husband lost control of his car on an icy road. I barely remember seeing him off for the last time, the ambulance taking him away, or how, the very next morning, I became a mother I had no will for anything. Without my beloved husband, everything around me lost its meaning. I fed and rocked my son only because Id been told I must.

A phone call jolted me out of my haze.

Your mother-in-laws in a bad way. Apparently, she wont live much longer without her son.

I acted straight away. After sorting out the paperwork, I quickly sold my flat in London. I invested a chunk of the money in building a new home so my son would have something of his own when he grew up. Then I went off to look after my mother-in-law.

That year, I didnt really liveI simply existed.

I barely slept, splitting my time between tending to my mother-in-law and my restless little boy. The baby was fretful, my mother-in-law needed constant attention.

Thank goodness I had savings. I called in the best doctors from around the country to come and examine her. I bought every medicine they prescribed, and, gradually, my mother-in-law returned to herself. At first, I wheeled her about the house, then around the garden. Before long, she was walking unaideduntil one day

I want nothing more to do with her now. Let her work out on her own whats needed for her recovery. At least I hadnt spent every last penny on her. My son and I moved to our new home. Id never imagined life would turn out like this.

I had wanted to live with my husbands mother because I grew up an orphan. But now, Im on my own. Ill have to teach my son: not everyone deserves your kindness, and some people care more about a weed-free garden than the people tending it.