I often heard my mother and father arguing behind the wall. My mother would call my father a drunkard, saying he didn’t bring home enough money to feed the baby. In return, my father accused her of many adulteries. I would listen to them screaming, while I hid and cried under the covers. In the morning they would pretend nothing had happened and kiss each other on the cheeks, and I would play along.
It wasn’t the most effective way, because my parents’ marriage lasted until I was twelve, and one night my mother announced that she was leaving us for another beau. She originally wanted to keep me for my father, and we didn’t ask for anything in return. As far back as I can remember, Dad told her right away that she could go anywhere and to anyone she wanted. He overreacted, he didn’t think Mom would pack her things in a day and then be gone the next morning.
He felt sorry for her and called her often. One day she even came “to visit” to pick up the things she hadn’t had time to do.
– Please don’t behave like this, we have a son growing up,” Daddy pleaded. – Do you have any idea what it will be like for him to be without his mother?
– You’re the one who said I could go, so what’s the problem now?! As you blamed me for all the troubles, you didn’t care what your son thought about it, and now it’s too late! Grow your own happiness, – she cut off.
Hearing this from my mother was hurt and hurt, not only me, my father, too. He literally begged her on his knees, and she left anyway. I consoled my dad afterwards, it was the first and last time I saw him cry.
– It’s okay, we’ll get through this,” he said. “We’re strong, we’re united, we’ll get our family back on its feet.
Without my mother, the house was calmer. Quarrels stopped, my father learned how to work as well as to rest in peace. We lived soul to soul, never quarreled or argued, the two of us were fine. My father sent me to university and attended my wedding.
I got used to living without my mother and didn’t need her anymore, when she got my number somewhere and started begging to see me. She remembered that she had a son and started offering her help.
– My husband is rich, and I own a beauty salon. I can help you financially, or at least hire your wife. She’s at home 24 hours a day with the baby. I bet you don’t have enough money for anything. And the father… what do you expect from him? Is he still a drunk?
I really didn’t like her dismissive tone and arrogance. My father worked, too, and my wife and I had enough for everything.
– You don’t have to. My dad taught me not to accept help from strangers,” I answered. – And we have everything. I wouldn’t have decided to have a baby if I wasn’t sure I could support and raise it. I am a responsible husband and parent.
My mother tried to “get through” to me for months, but gave up when I wouldn’t even let her look at my grandson, insisting that we were strangers. Sometimes the closest people are alienated and become strangers, and people you met not so long ago, like my wife and my little boy, become the closest. The main thing is to carry this through life, as Dad and I do, not to lose this closeness.
