Youve grown so ugly, youre bound to have a daughter, my mother-in-law would say to me.
Whenever others complained about clashes with their in-laws, I never believed them. With his parents, things were finebut that was likely because we moved 200 miles away almost right after the wedding.
I never even had time to really know my new mum. After the reception, we stayed in their flat for a week, and back then, everything was pleasant. Then we moved, my husband being in the military.
We lived there for ten years. Until he was posted back near his hometown. That was rather unwelcome newsId settled in by then, we had a nice house, and I was expecting our third child. But there was no arguing with orders.
I gave birth in his hometown. A year later, I was pregnant again. Unplanned, unprepared, but wed always wanted a big family, so we didnt dwell on it. While I was expecting, my mum came to help. Shed drop by now and then, but instead of lifting a finger, shed sit sipping tea, doling out advice.
I let the remarks about housekeeping slide. But when she started on child-rearing, I seethed. It rankled, knowing this womanwho barely knew me, hadnt seen me in a decade, and only recognised her grandchildren from photoswas now dictating how I should raise them.
Then, in my eighth month, she declared:
Youre definitely having a girl!
We *wanted* a girlafter three boys! So I smiled and asked,
What makes you say that?
Youve aged terribly, all puffy, your face swollen like a pudding. A girl steals whats left of your looks.
Oh, lovely. Ive been this swollen in every pregnancy.
Not like this.
How would you know? Youve only seen photos.
Dont argue. I had a son, and I glowedeveryone said so. You? You look frightful. Bloated as a sponge, feet too swollen for slippers.
I said nothing. Didnt tell her it wasnt the babys sexit was being thirty-nine. Shed had my husband at nineteen, when anyones a fresh-faced blossom. Shed called me ugly often enough. My husband finally put a stop to it. And as it turned out, we had another son.
