{"id":10394,"date":"2025-09-04T00:23:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T00:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=10394"},"modified":"2025-09-04T00:23:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T00:23:40","slug":"10394","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=10394","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

child really does discipline you \u2014 that\u2019s true. Love for him becomes both compass and anchor. The first time I held my son, I felt such powerful energy that I could have moved mountains to protect him. Luckily, our quiet life offered no great dangers. He rarely got sick, adjusted easily to kindergarten, then to school, where he was an average but steady student. He had announced his wish to become a chef as early as the sixth grade. I just smiled, stroking his messy hair, sure his plans would change. But by ninth grade, he knew exactly what he wanted. So when Maxim suggested giving him the one-bedroom, I easily agreed. It was reasonable. Our boy wasn\u2019t reckless \u2014 on the contrary. Confident, focused, Bogdan truly deserved independence.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides, it\u2019s already furnished \u2014 everything\u2019s there. Let him live there, and we\u2019ll see how he does,\u201d I told Maxim.
\u201cMaybe he\u2019ll even move this summer. The main thing is passing the exams well.\u201d
\u201cOf course, the exams are the main thing. Besides, we already have a future daughter-in-law,\u201d I smiled.<\/p>\n

Bogdan had been dating a wonderful girl, Kristina, for two years. I liked her very much \u2014 polite, smart, beautiful. They made a lovely couple, and I promised myself I\u2019d be the perfect mother-in-law. At least the opposite of mine.<\/p>\n

Not long ago, Maxim and I had a serious fight. Once again, over his mother. For a long time, Valentina Petrovna had been pushing him to buy a country house for her and my father-in-law. When my husband hinted that we might help with the down payment \u2014 because \u201cparents should be respected\u201d \u2014 I exploded.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaxim, why should I spend the money I worked so hard for on your mother\u2019s whims? We have a son, I want to live a little myself, travel, rest. And your mother comes demanding a private house? Forget it!\u201d
\u201cI\u2019m not saying we should pay for everything. But we could help with some of it.\u201d
\u201cListen, I\u2019ve had enough of her. Always \u2018buy me medicine, buy me groceries.\u2019 And in return? Last time she came, opened our fridge, rummaging through pots, checking what I cooked! I\u2019m a grown woman, the mistress of my own home. I won\u2019t tolerate that!\u201d<\/p>\n

She had pulled tricks like that all our married life. When I was younger, I endured her insults silently. After Bogdan was born, I grew stronger and started fighting back. That\u2019s when the real war began. She constantly criticized me, insulted me, found fault in everything. Even managed to quarrel with her grandson once, when he was about fourteen. He overheard her yelling at me and stormed into the kitchen, telling her to never insult me again, practically throwing her out the door. Since then, she held a grudge even against him, saying he took after me and not his father. But that only made us laugh.<\/p>\n

Bogdan passed his exams brilliantly and entered culinary college without problems. We celebrated with cake and pizza and told him he could move into his grandfather\u2019s apartment. He was delighted and thanked us. And then \u2014 the doorbell rang. It was Saturday, we weren\u2019t expecting anyone. Maxim went to open it. Soon I heard my mother-in-law\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to talk, son. Is your wife home?\u201d<\/p>\n

I greeted her politely and invited her to the table.
\u201cSit with us, Valentina Petrovna, we\u2019re celebrating Bogdan\u2019s admission.\u201d
\u201cThank you. Congratulations, Bogdanchik. Smart boy, just like your mother,\u201d she said, her tone mocking.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what brings you here?\u201d I asked directly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour apartment is listed for sale. People will come see it in half an hour,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, our apartment is for sale?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSimple. Tatiana inherited one, you two don\u2019t need such a big place anymore. Bogdan\u2019s grown, why keep such space for just the two of you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s also my apartment,\u201d Maxim finally spoke up. \u201cWe bought it with a mortgage, spent years paying and renovating. Why should we sell it, Mom?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll move into Tatiana\u2019s parents\u2019 place. With the money from this sale, you\u2019ll buy us a country house. Whatever\u2019s left \u2014 get Bogdan a room or studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

I burst out laughing, definitely from nerves.
\u201cAre you out of your mind, Valentina Petrovna? Why would we buy you a house? You have your own apartment \u2014 sell it and buy whatever you like. But don\u2019t touch our property!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen sell your parents\u2019 place. Why do you need so much real estate?\u201d she pressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBogdan will live there. He\u2019s grown, studying, moving out. Your dream of a country house is none of our concern. We have our own lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re greedy and selfish, Tatiana! And you, Maxim! Aren\u2019t you ashamed? We raised you, and this is our thanks in old age!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGrandma, sorry, but having a child was your decision. Don\u2019t come here trying to strip your son bare!\u201d Bogdan suddenly defended us.<\/p>\n

My mother-in-law stood up without touching the cake.
\u201cChoke on your apartments!\u201d she snapped, slamming the door.<\/p>\n

We sat in silence.
\u201cWhat was that?\u201d Bogdan asked, wide-eyed.<\/p>\n

That question oddly lightened the mood. But then \u2014 another ring at the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, we came to see the apartment!\u201d a young woman smiled, holding the hand of a little boy about five.<\/p>\n

The boy waved cheerfully.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, there\u2019s been a terrible misunderstanding because of my mother-in-law. We\u2019re not selling. But we can offer some candy! Would you like some, if your mom allows?\u201d I asked him.<\/p>\n

They both nodded, and I brought him a handful of sweets.
\u201cThank you, Auntie!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, this is so awkward! Valentina Petrovna insisted it was urgent. The area\u2019s so nice, I came without my husband just in case\u2026\u201d
\u201cNo worries, it happens. Don\u2019t worry, there are plenty of listings nearby,\u201d I reassured her and closed the door warmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom, do you mind if Kristina and I get married after school?\u201d Bogdan asked when I returned. \u201cDad\u2019s fine with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026 You\u2019re grown now, Bogdan. Decide for yourself. I like Kristina very much.\u201d
\u201cYou won\u2019t demand we sell an apartment to buy you a country house?\u201d<\/p>\n

We all burst out laughing again.<\/p>\n

That evening, my father-in-law called to apologize for his wife\u2019s behavior. I told him not to worry \u2014 nothing bad had happened.<\/p>\n

A week later, Bogdan moved out. We kept in close touch. Our relationship with Valentina Petrovna ended for good, and I didn\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n

When Bogdan and Kristina graduated, they got married. I was amazed at how mature and grounded my son had become. A year later, they brought me a beautiful granddaughter, Polina. Maxim and I were thrilled to be grandparents. I considered selling my father\u2019s apartment to help them, but Bogdan got a great job at a restaurant, and they bought their own place with a mortgage. We decided to rent out my dad\u2019s apartment for extra income.<\/p>\n

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child really does discipline you \u2014 that\u2019s true. Love for him becomes both compass and anchor. The first time I held my son, I felt such powerful energy that I could have moved mountains to protect him. Luckily, our quiet life offered no great dangers. He rarely got sick, adjusted easily to kindergarten, then to…<\/p>\n

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