Your son is the worstnothing good will ever come of him!
Olivia freezes in the doorway, nearly dropping the strawberry cake shes been carrying. Her mother watches her with a disapproving stare, as if Olivia has done something unforgivable.
Mom, what are you on about? Olivia places the cake on the kitchen table. What does Michael have to do with this?
Its because hes already in Year7 and still at a regular state school! her mother snaps, raising her voice. No specialist programmes, no advanced courses. How is he ever going to get into a decent university? How will he ever achieve anything?
Olivia bites her lip. The argument follows the same old script, and a hot sting of injustice flares in her chest.
Mom, Michael does well in school. He gets As in most subjects, has a maths tutor, and wants to go into programming like his dad.
Exactly! her mother gushes, waving her hands. Programming! Sitting behind a computer like your brother Sam. A plain job, a plain salary. And you? A teacher! A tutor! You earn pennies. Do you even feed your child properly?
Olivia tightens her fists. Her mothers words cut deep, hitting the most sensitive spots. Yes, Sam and she never had heaps of money; they have to count every pound. But their son Michael is happy.
Were fine. Michael is happy, Olivia says.
Happy? her mother scoffs, walking to the window. Victors son, on the other hand, is a real treasure. Anthony attends a school with an intensive Englishimmersion programme. Imagine thatEnglish from the first year! Hes already fluent. Victor and Leah are brilliant parents; they spare no expense for their child.
Olivia listens in silence. Her brother has always been the golden boy. He opened a small business, bought a bigger flat, and his wife Leah stays at home, looking after the house and their son. Every chance her mother gets, she pits them against Olivias family.
Anthony is such a gifted boy, her mother continues, warming up. Hes destined for greatness. Victor says theyll send him abroad for language courses at thirteen. Thats real foresight, real perspective. Not this ordinary school youve got.
Olivia steps closer. Her mothers shoulders are rigid, her face severe.
Mom, I understand you want your grandchildren to succeed. But Michael isnt worse than Anthony. Theyre just on different paths.
Different paths! her mother retorts, spinning around. One leads up to success, the other to drifting in poverty. Is that what you want for your son? To live in squalor?
Something tightens inside Olivia.
Were not poor. We live within our means. Michael will grow into a good mansmart, kind, hardworking.
Hardworking! her mother snorts. Thats not enough these days, dear. You need connections, money, a prestigious education. What does Michael have? A regular school and a motherteacher who can barely make ends meet.
Olivia turns away. In front of her sits the cake, its berries glistening, the one she baked with love. Now the dessert feels pointless.
Mom, Im not going to argue. We raise our son the way we think is right, and hes happy.
The future is what matters! her mother presses closer. Youre ruining him with your carelessness. Victor gets it. He does everything so Anthony becomes someone significant. You just go with the flow.
Olivia shakes her head. Arguing is futile; her mother is unmoved.
Fine, Mom. Lets just have lunch. Sam and Michael will be here soon.
As expected, the meal passes in a tense haze. Her mother gushed about Anthonys achievements and Victors pride, while Michael ate quietly, stealing glances at his grandmother. Olivia forced a smile, trying to show everything was okay.
After lunch Olivia decides she must limit contact with her mother. The endless comparisons become too painful. She still calls her mother and Victor to wish them happy holidays, but she stops arranging family gatherings. Her mother takes offense, yet Olivia holds firm, determined to shield her son from the negativity.
Years pass. Michael grows, studies, and becomes passionate about programming. Olivia hears occasional updates about her brothers side of the family. Anthony graduates with a gold medal, wins a place at a prestigious universitylargely thanks to his fathers connections.
Michael also finishes school, gains a place on a scholarship at a respectable technical college, passes his exams honestly, and by his third year is working at a modest IT firm. Olivia feels proud, as does Sam. Still, her mother keeps bringing up Anthony alone.
More years slip by. The children are now approaching thirty. For her mothers birthday, the whole family gathers. Victor and Leah arrive, as does Anthonytall, goodlooking, with a carefree haircut. He dropped his engineering job after a short stint to chase a music career, forming a band. Victor financed the equipment. Two years later the band has yet to break through. Anthony lives with his parents, unemployed, earning nothing.
Olivia watches her mother beam as she hugs Anthony, runs her hand through his hair, and asks about his musical projects. He answers lazily, yawning, scrolling through his phone. Her mother doesnt notice his indifference; to her, Anthony remains the golden grandson.
Michael sits beside his wife, Anna, who is four months pregnant. He works for a large tech corporation, earns a solid salary, rents a flat, and saves for a house. Yet his grandmother seems oblivious to his achievements.
Olivia sees Sam tense up, jaw clenched. Anna looks at Michael with worry, but he smiles, stroking her hand. Evening drags on as her mother regales the guests with stories of Anthonys imminent fame. He nods politely. Olivia stays silent.
Finally the night winds down. Sam, Michael and Anna are the first to leave, saying theyll wait by the car. Olivia ties a scarf in the hallway when her mother approaches her.
Olivia, wait. I need to tell you something, her mother says quietly but seriously.
Olivia freezes. Her mothers voice is low, but the words are sharp.
Your Michael is boring, dear. Grey, ordinaryjust like you and Sam. No spark. Anthony, on the other hand, is a genius, a star. Hell prove it to everyone. Your son simply lives, works, gets married, will have a child. Theres nothing special about that. Hes just another face in the crowd.
Olivia stands, feeling as if something inside her has shattered. She exhales slowly, meets her mothers gaze.
Mom, Ive thought about this for a long time. I assumed you wanted me to be a better mother, to push Michael harder, to invest more in him. I believed your criticism came from a good place, meant to motivate me.
Your mother frowns, but Olivia lifts a hand.
But the truth is simpler. You never loved my son. All this time you showed it through constant comparisons, through praise of Anthony, through criticism of me. You didnt want him to improve; you just wanted me to know hes not good enough for you.
Her mothers face pales. Olivia, calmly buttoning her coat, continues.
Yet you know what? My son is the best. Hes smart, kind, diligent, respectable. Hes grown into an ideal man. Hell soon be a father and will be wonderful at it, because I never let him hear that you see him as an unwanted grandchild. I protected him from your poison, Mum. I did everything to keep him happy.
Your mother remains silent, eyes wide. Olivia grabs her bag.
Your opinions about me, Sam, and our son can stay with you. Im done listening. Ive wasted years trying to earn your love. No more. Live however you like, love whoever you want. I wash my hands of this game. Ill soon have a grandchild of my own, and Ill love him as a proper grandmother should.
Olivia walks out, closes the door behind her, heads down to the car where Sam, Michael and Anna wait. Sam embraces her, Michael smiles. She settles into the passenger seat, leans back, and feels an unexpected calm settle over her, as if a weight has lifted. No more pretending, no more trying to prove herself.
It has taken years, but she finally frees herself from her mothers opinion. She has what truly matters: a real family. And thats all anyone really needs.
