“I dont want to be a mum! I want to go out! my daughter told me.
My daughter fell pregnant when she was just 15. She managed to keep it hidden from us for quite a while. My husband and I didnt find out until she was already five months along. Abortion wasnt an option by that stage.
We never managed to learn who the father was. My daughter only said that theyd been seeing each other for three months, and then broke it off. She wasnt even sure how old he was.
Maybe 17, maybe 18. Or possibly 19! Thats all shed say.
As you can imagine, my husband and I were shocked when we learned our daughter was expecting. We both knew it would be incredibly difficult for the whole family. Even so, she kept insisting that she wanted the baby, that she was ready to be a mum. I knew, deep down, she didnt really understand what being a mother meant.
Four months later, she gave birth to a lovely little boyhealthy and strong. However, the birth was very hard on her, and it took her four months to recover. Theres no way she could have managed without me, so I quit my job and devoted myself to looking after both her and my grandson.
Once she started to get her strength back, she didnt even want to go near the baby. Shed sleep through the nights, and wanted nothing to do with him during the day. I did everything I could. I tried talking, coaxing, reasoning with hereven lost my temper with her, trying to get her to help out. And thats when she said to me:
I can see that you love him. Why dont you adopt him? Ill be his sister. I dont want to be a mum, I want to go out with my friends, go to nightclubs! I want to have fun!
At first, I wondered if she was suffering from postnatal depression. But it turned out that wasnt the case. She really, truly, didnt feel any affection for her child.
Eventually, my husband and I realised we had to make some serious decisions, and we arranged to have guardianship of our grandson. Our daughter became completely unpredictableshe wouldnt listen to us at all. Shed vanish at night and only come back in the early morning. She showed no interest in her own son.
Thats how things went for several years. We honestly thought nothing would ever change. Meanwhile, our grandson grew and flourished. In just two years, he transformedhe got taller, started walking, learned to talk. He became such a bright, cheerful little boy.
He always lit up when our daughter came home: hed run to her, hug her, chatter away. And eventually, something in her heart changed. She thawed, and became a wonderful mother. These days, she spends every spare moment with him, always holding him close, smothering him with kisses. She often says:
Im so happy to have a son! Hes the most precious thing in my life! Id never give him up for anything!
My husband and I are overjoyed that, at last, theres peace and contentment in our family again.
