**”She’s Not Much of a Mother”: Elizabeth Margaret on Her Ex-Daughter-in-Law’s Life After Divorce**
Elizabeth Margaret from Manchester can’t come to terms with how her son and his ex-wife’s lives have turned out. What Laura has become since the divorce, her former mother-in-law calls nothing short of “reckless irresponsibility.”
*”My son left Laura with their child—yes, I don’t justify him. Though a mother’s heart, willing or not, still aches for him. He remarried quickly, to his first love—Emily, the girl he’d been with at university. Back then, while he was doing his national service, she married his best friend. Now she’s divorced, and my son ran into her at a Tesco—just like that, they picked up where they left off. They’ve even had a son together. On paper, his life seems perfect.”*
Laura had been someone he met after his service. They worked together, married fast, and soon little Molly was born. At first, it seemed like a solid family—but then, clearly, old flames burned brighter.
The divorce was civil, no shouting matches. He walked away, leaving the flat and furnishings for Laura, only taking his personal things. Laura handled it with grace, never interfering with his or his mother’s visits with Molly.
*”But what she’s done since the divorce—it’s beyond comprehension,” Elizabeth Margaret sighs, shaking her head.*
Naturally, the neighbours were quick to ask:
*”Drinking? Partying? Bringing men around?”*
*”No,”* she answers, pinching her lips. *”She doesn’t drink, and she’s not the type to chase men. But she carries on as if life’s never been better—always laughing, always flitting about, off to the countryside, hiking, hosting gatherings. As if she weren’t the one left with a child after divorce, but him!”*
Laura takes Molly everywhere. Claims fresh air is good for her, that the girl needs friends, that the mums in her circle have kids too. But Elizabeth Margaret disapproves:
*”Who knows who’s at those picnics? Strange men? Divorcées? Alcohol? Cigarettes? The child sees and hears it all. What sort of upbringing is that?”*
She’s convinced—Molly would be better off with her:
*”She’d have proper home-cooked meals, trips to the theatre. Not traipsing about like some vagabond.”*
Elizabeth Margaret tried pressuring her son to talk sense into his ex:
*”Tell her to set some order in raising Molly. She’s your daughter too. You’ve got your new family—fine. But your girl shouldn’t grow up in this circus.”*
Her son just shrugged:
*”Mum, I’ve no right to interfere. I’m the one who wrecked the family. She knows how to live her life.”*
He pays child support, sees Molly when Laura brings her by. But Elizabeth hasn’t been allowed inside their home in ages:
*”Always an excuse—‘too busy’, ‘no time’. I know she’s just afraid I’ll say what needs saying. Maybe she’s got a new man. What if he’s cruel to Molly?”*
Recently, Laura snapped over the phone:
*”If you keep meddling in my personal life, you’ll see Molly once a month—in the park. Be grateful I even allow that. Another woman in my place would’ve cut you all off after your son cheated and left me for someone else. I’m holding back—for Molly’s sake.”*
Elizabeth is furious:
*”Imagine—she’s offended with me! I’m breaking my back for my granddaughter, and she paints me as the villain!”*
*”What am I supposed to do now?”* she laments to friends. *”Can’t I even speak my mind anymore? Or do I not matter? Should I talk to her mother? The woman who introduced us? Maybe she’ll talk sense into her daughter. I didn’t raise my son for this—to stand by while my granddaughter is brought up in this… carelessness.”*
*”Tell me, ladies—am I wrong to worry? Or should I just step aside? But how can I stay silent, watching my granddaughter raised by that flighty woman?”*
