While Our Children and Grandchildren Live in a Tiny Flat, My Son-in-Law’s Parents Enjoy Life in a Sp…

While the children and grandchildren squeeze into a tiny flat, my son-in-laws parents revel in spacious comfort.

My daughter married, but luck has never been on our side with her husband or his parents. We try to give the children everything, yet his family gives nothing. Eight years have passed since their wedding, and still, its always the same story.

When it came to finding a place to live, his parents made themselves clearnothing to do with us, they said.

We were left with no choice but to sell up and buy a small flat for our daughter and her family. I didnt want to leave our lovely little placewarm, sturdy, a real brick home. But what could we do? The children needed a nest of their own. We fixed it up, furnished it, sorted everything ourselves, with not a finger lifted from his side of the family.

I help out with the grandchildren too. My daughter is on maternity leave with the little one, while the eldest is already in year two at school, so I drive him there every morning. Its too much for my daughter on her ownto wake the little one, get everyone dressed, dash to school, all before work. So, I take turns with their grandad, both of us doing our bit to raise the grandchildren.

My son-in-laws parents? As always, they pretend it has nothing to do with them. I look at it and wonderhow can grandparents be so detached, so indifferent?

Its always been this way. Can you imagine not giving your own child a penny for their wedding? Before the big day, I phoned them: The children are getting married, lets sit down and talk. They replied:

What if they divorce in a month? You know, seventy percent of couples split up in the first six monthsstatistics, you know.

In the end, it was my husband and me who paid for the wedding and bought them that tiny flata studio, really. His parents showed up at the reception like strangers, pressed a lousy fifty quid in an envelope, and called it a day.

All the while, my son-in-law always has another request.

We bought them that flat eight years agoit was plenty big enough for two. But now, with two children, the walls are closing in.

I think my son-in-law should show some initiative. I tell him: If you cant earn more, maybe your parents could step in?

He replied flatly, I couldnt possibly ask them.

So I offer, Let me raise it for you, if youre embarrassed. But he shuts me downabsolutely forbids me from even mentioning it.

I couldnt believe his attitude. So, its shameful to ask your own parents, but not to depend on your in-laws? For eight years, hes relied on us for almost everything. Why cant he earn it himself? People his age manage to buy homes. Youre young, I say, There are always other options. Pick up a side job, look for work abroad.

He bristles. My daughter calls, telling me Im interfering, that his parents wont change, that’s just who they aretheyre not going to help.

It stings. His parents live comfortably, off to Bath for spa holidays, not a care in the world, yet he wont hear a word against them. My son-in-laws so keen to protect his own family, but it seems he never worries about us, the ones actually helping his.

What a devoted sonand yet not the slightest pang of conscience for his wifes parents.