They say children bring joy, and grandchildren are much the same. I suppose I agreeso long as you dont have too many, and youre able to support them properly. My husband, John, and I have one daughter. As often happens, when she turned nineteen, she stunned us by announcing she was pregnant and intending to keep the baby. Not only did she go ahead, but she had twins. Then, she got marriedher husband, James, was very young himself, barely making enough. Naturally, most of the support fell to us.
John and I had to take up extra work just to keep things afloat for our daughter and grandchildren. They lived with us for a good while. I remember rising early for both jobs, spending my nights running around after the twins so Emily could catch some rest. My health, honestly, began to falterthe strain was too much.
This went on for three years. They eventually managed to stand on their own feet, the twins had grown, and I thought perhaps life would settle. But then Emily rang one day and told me she was pregnant again. I admit I told her straightaway it might be better to consider termination; two children are already hard to manage. She was adamant though, insisted shed have the baby. So she did, and everything returned to its hectic routine. More mouths to feed, more money needed. My husband and I threw ourselves back into work, even though Jamess earnings had improvedit still wasnt nearly enough for a family of five.
Everything caught up with us in the end. John suffered a stroke; my own heart started troubling me. Thats when I realised we couldnt keep pushing ourselves like this. I told Emily it was time she and James learned to manage on their own. Then, she delivered another blow: shes pregnant with her fourth.
I was honestly lost for words. Did they expect us to go on supporting them forever? We simply cant any longer. I dont know what to do, and I dread how others might judge us for letting our only daughter struggle. But weve done what we could. Weve given everything, and now theres nothing left.
