Ian? Margaret looked at the guy next door, eyebrows raised, youre home? I thought you were in London. Laura said you wouldnt be back for another fortnight.
Ive caught a cold, Ian muttered, shutting the door and turning to her.
Anything serious? she asked, a note of concern in her voice.
Oh, nothing I just coughed a couple of times and they made a fuss about it! Stay away, youll infect the baby! they said, so I went back. Laura had to foot the bill herself. She finally gave up last night.
And how long are you planning to live like this? Margaret teased a little, isnt it getting old?
What do you mean? Ian frowned.
He never liked people prying about his family, but now he let it slip.
Im on a rotation!
Right, Margaret, Ian smirked, what does a rotation have to do with us? Were not commuting to a job. For us its a bit of fun.
Fun? You two look like youve been dunked in cold water lately! Stop making a joke of yourselves, nobodys going to appreciate it!
***
Emily, Ian and Lauras daughter, spent almost a year after university hunting for a job in her field. Every offer fell short too far away, too little pay, or just not right.
Her parents kept telling her shed eventually find the perfect spot.
But the dream job stayed a dream.
So Emily decided to head to London. A university mate had landed a role there and invited her to go together. There are a few openings, itll be less scary with a friend, she said. After all, it was a new city.
Ian and Laura werent thrilled. They thought she could get a decent job back home if she waited a bit.
Emily had never lived on her own and had no idea what it would be like. Renting a flat in the capital wasnt cheap either. Whos going to foot the bill and for how long? they wondered.
No matter how much Ian and Laura tried to dissuade her, Emily promised to call every day and visit oftenoften and off she went to London.
She got a decent placement. The university arranged a student hall, so she didnt have to rent a flat something she hadnt even imagined.
At first she came home often, missing us. Then the trips became rarer, and we mostly just got occasional phone calls.
She fell for a London lad, Tom, and the romance took off quickly. Soon they were talking about marriage.
Ian and Laura were over the moon when Emily slipped in that she was expecting a baby.
***
After the wedding the young couple moved into a flat of their own. Tom refused to live with his parents, which annoyed his folks, but they didnt argue If you want your own place, have at it. Just dont expect us to bail you out.
Tom laughed, Im not counting on anyone!
Why so cold? Emily whispered later, alone with him, What if something goes wrong?
Dont worry, Tom said, pulling her close, well be fine.
***
And they were. Money came in nicely, the pregnancy went smoothly, Emily went on maternity leave and gave birth to a healthy little girl. Granddad John and Grandma Mary were over the moon.
The grandparents visited every week, and Emilys parents dropped by when they could Dad was still working a few months before retirement, Mum still had five years left before she could retire.
Everything was great, until Tom lost his job. Not exactly lost he quit, confident another, better position would pop up. It didnt. The vacancy went to someone else at the last minute.
Tom took it badly. He shut himself in, started drinking, became irritable and constantly unhappy. Soon he slipped into a deep depression that landed him in a clinic.
Emily was torn between husband and child. Tom sometimes demanded more attention than their twoyearold daughter, Lily, needed.
And then there was the motherinlaw.
She kept nagging, Youve abandoned my son, youre living off us, what about working? Lilys two already!
Emily, halfinmaternity leave, retorted, Im on leave, not fulltime at home!
You should get a job! Stop living off us! the motherinlaw snapped.
Emily wondered whether she was being genuine or just looking for an excuse. Tom had been unemployed for six months; they were living off maternity pay and the savings theyd set aside for a house, while the grandparents were still on a modest pension. Yet the criticism felt like a punch in the gut.
One evening Emily confided in her own parents. Ian and Laura listened and suggested she look for a nursery, just in case.
First, it will take time, her mum warned.
And if your motherinlaw pushes this, she wont back down easily, her dad added.
But Lilys still tiny! Emily sobbed.
Laura, trying to lighten the mood, said, We sent you to nursery when you were a baby, and look at you now!
Mom! Emily cried, tears spilling, Why didnt you tell me earlier? Now Im stuck between a rock and a hard place!
Ian stepped in, Well help however we can, love.
Laura thought, What can we really do? Its 450 miles away!
***
Any chance we can sort this quickly? Emily hoped.
A nursery slot opened faster than expected. She told her boss shed be back to work in a month. At the same time Tom found a new job.
Now they just had to get Lily used to the nursery
The staff asked Emily to bring Lily for an hour the first day, then two, then half a day. Simple on paper, nightmare in practice.
The moment Lily saw the nursery building she erupted into a fullblown scream, not a whimper. She screamed for an entire week. Shed quiet down in the changing room for a few minutes, but the moment she sensed her mum leaving, the noise started again.
Tom tried taking Lily, no luck. Both parents tried together, coaxing, promising treats, but Lily stayed glued to her cries. They left her alone hoping shed calm down she didnt.
The carers finally said, Dont worry, this happens. Bring her back in a couple of months and well keep the place for you.
Easier said than done, Emily muttered as they walked home, I need to get back to work. Ive already asked for this spot!
Tom shrugged, I dont know, but we cant keep hurting her.
Your parents are retired, Emily said, and they live not far away. Maybe they could look after Lily for a few weeks?
Tom hesitated, Ill ask, but Im not sure theyll agree.
He promised to talk to them.
Granddad John and Grandma Mary reminded Tom that he should sort his own problems, but theyd do anything for their granddaughter. They started taking turns driving Lily to the nursery. And miracle she went in without a scream, waved goodbye with a tiny hand, and was all smiles.
One afternoon, the nursery staff announced it was naptime. Lily refused to lie down, throwing a fullblown tantrum. The staff called Grandma Mary, who flew over, or Granddad came, and the routine settled down quickly.
Eventually Lily only stayed until noon, which started to wear on Tom and Emily. They claimed health issues Grandma Mary complained about her blood pressure, John about his back and stopped looking after Lily.
Lily needs constant eyes, and Im overrun, Grandma Mary whined. You should have thought this through.
Emily snapped back, We only sent her for a few months, and it worked! It was your idea in the first place.
Granddad flared, Were done here! and dragged his wife out of the hallway.
Tom, after his parents left, asked, What now?
Emily shrugged, Maybe Ill have to quit my job.
I dont think thats the answer.
What do you suggest?
Leave Lily at the nursery all day.
Tomorrow? Youll have to drag her yourself!
My daughter isnt every child! Lily sobbed.
Just then Emilys mother called.
My mums on holiday and can come over next week, she said. Weve got about a month to sort this out.
Emily clapped her hands like a kid, Mums coming tomorrow! Were saved!
Tom laughed, Great, time to finally meet the inlaws.
Emily grinned, My mums a legend; shell sort it.
Sure enough, Laura (Emilys mum) arranged a schedule: she and John would take turns staying with Lily while the parents were at work.
Dont be mad at them, love, Laura said, eyeing Tom, age catches up with us all.
Emily replied, Im not mad, I just dont know how youll both manage to get here with work.
Laura reassured, Ill shift my hours, and Johns retiring in two weeks. By the time hes settled, Lily will be a big girl, four years old, and can manage the nursery on her own.
The plan went ahead. Laura took Lily to the nursery in the morning, left her there, and picked her up after twelve. The grandparents called to confirm everything was fine.
Now Ian and Laura are making the fortnightly trek to London, swapping places every two weeks. Ian, retired, sometimes stays longer, driving Lily to the nursery and collecting her at noon while waiting for the parents to finish work. In the evenings he strolls around London, not because he loves the city, but because watching young couples trying to sort their lives out makes him feel a bit nostalgic.
Kids these days dont want to do any work, he tells Laura when they meet after a brief stay, they order takeaways, bingewatch rubbish, and think their opinions are the only ones that matter.
Laura sighs, I keep myself busy laundry, cleaning, cooking. What can we do? The younger generation is a different breed. I feel sorry for Lily I cant picture her without us.
Margaret, the neighbour, had heard all this and tried to give advice, but as a former teacher she couldnt quite grasp their situation. She warned, Youre letting a threeyearold manipulate you both. She wont sleep in the nursery if you keep leaving her early shell just cry more.
Laura shot back, I cant just ignore her, shes my baby.
Margaret huffed, Youve created the problem yourselves. Your inlaws could have helped, but now youre making it worse. When Lily goes to school, will you be there to sit at her desk?
Ian, fed up, finally confronted Margaret:
You, Margaret, think you can tell us how to run our family?
Margaret replied, Just trying to keep order. Your granddaughter is being spoiled, your daughter is using you both, your soninlaw is dumping his responsibilities on you, and you two are hopping back and forth 450 miles every two weeks. Its a mess.
Ian, trying to stay calm, said, Im not asking for your opinion. I never asked you for advice.
Margaret fell silent. Ian, with a weary smile, added, We love our daughter and granddaughter, and there are no borders to that love. Well keep helping as long as we can.
He turned and walked down the stairs, leaving Margaret standing, wondering why shed gotten involved at all.
So, what do you think? Is Margaret right?
