Love Without Borders

28October2025

Dear Diary,

Tonight the neighbour, MrsMarjorie Ellis, peered over the garden fence with a puzzled look. Ian? Are you home? I thought you were in London. Susan told me youd be away for two weeks.

Im just a bit under the weather, I muttered, shutting the back door and turning to her.

Is it serious? she asked, concern in her voice.

Nothing major, I snapped, feeling irritated. Just a cough or twono need to panic. Im back now. Susan had to cover the bills herself; shes been pushing through the night.

She raised an eyebrow. How long do you plan to keep living like this? Arent you tired of it?

What’s that supposed to mean? I frowned. I never liked people prying into my family life, but tonight the words slipped out. Shift work!

MrsEllis huffed, Come off it, Ian. What does shift work have to do with us? We arent commuting to a job. For us its a a blessing, I suppose.

A blessing? I retorted, a hint of sarcasm in my tone. You two look like youve been dunked in water latelyalways smiling. When will you stop making a fool of yourselves? No ones going to applaud you, you know.

—

My daughter Emily, after finishing university, spent nearly a year hunting for a job in her field. Every posting seemed wrongtoo far away, too lowpaid, or simply unappealing. My wife Susan tried to reassure her, insisting she would eventually find what she wanted. Yet the months slipped by, and the dream job remained a dream.

Frustrated, Emily decided to move to London. A former classmate had just landed a position there and offered to go together, saying it would be easierand less scaryto have a companion in a new city. Susan wasnt thrilled. She argued that Emily could find a decent role locally if she just waited a bit longer. After all, Emily had never lived away from home and had little idea what independence truly meant. Renting a flat in London was, to put it mildly, pricey; we wondered who would bear that load, and for how long.

No matter how much Susan and I tried to dissuade her, Emily promised to call daily and visit oftenoften before boarding a train for London. She secured a modest job, and thanks to university housing, she didnt need to rent a flatshe moved into a dormitory, a situation shed never imagined possible.

At first Emily visited home frequently, missing us terribly. Over time the trips grew rarer, reduced to occasional phone calls. Then she fell in love.

Her romance with Londoner Charles Hartley blossomed quickly, and before long they were talking about marriage. Emily whispered to us that she was expecting a baby, and we were over the moon.

—

After the wedding, the newlyweds rented a flat of their own. Charles refused to live with his parents, which bruised their feelings, but they simply said, If you want independence, have it. Just dont count on us for help. Charles smirked, Im not counting on anything!

Emily gently chided him, Why so harsh? What if something goes wrong? Charles pulled her close, Dont worry, love. Everything will be fine.

And indeed, everything seemed to run smoothly. They earned good wages, Emilys pregnancy progressed well, and she went on maternity leave to welcome a healthy baby girl, Lily. Grandparents doted on her, visiting every week, while Emilys own parents tried to help when they couldher father, nearing retirement, and her mother, still five years away from the same.

Everything was pictureperfect, until Charles lost his job. Not quite losthe quit, convinced a better offer was around, only to have the position handed to someone else at the last minute. The blow sent him spiralling: he withdrew, began drinking, grew irritable, and eventually fell into a deep depression that required hospital treatment.

Emily was torn between husband and child. Charles, in his fragile state, sometimes demanded more attention than their twoyearold daughter, Lily. Adding to the strain was Susan, Emilys motherinlaw, who constantly complained that Emily had abandoned her son, neglecting him while she sat on his neck.

On what neck? Emily snapped. Im on maternity leave, not sitting at home.

Susan retorted, Enough of this! The child is twowhy not get a job? Stop living off us! Emily wondered whether Susan truly believed that or was merely venting. Charles had been unemployed for half a year; the family was surviving on maternity benefits and a modest contribution from Susans parents, who gave them a single salary. Yet Susan scolded Emily for a slice of bread.

Feeling hurt, Emily confided in her parents. Ian and Susan listened and suggested looking for a nursery for Lily, just in case.

My first concern is time, Susan warned. And if your motherinlaw raises this again, she wont back down.

But Lily is still so little! Emily sobbed. What nursery could we possibly afford?

Susan reminded Emily, We put you in a babygroup when you were a toddler, and look how you turned out.

Mother! Emilys eyes welled up. So we couldnt have done it then? And now you blame me for my mothers foolishness?

Ian interjected, Well help if we can, but remember were 700miles away.

—

The nursery spot appeared surprisingly quickly. Emily told her boss she could return to work in a month. At the same time, Charles finally found a decent job. The only thing left was to ease Lily into the nursery.

The staff advised Emily to bring Lily for one hour the first day, then two, then until noon. In theory it sounded simple, but the reality was far tougher. The moment Lily saw the nursery building, she began wailing at the top of her lungsher cries, not tears, filled the hallway for an entire week. She would quiet down briefly in the changing room, only to erupt again as soon as she sensed her mother leaving.

Charles tried to take Lily, the same result. Both parents tried together, offering treats and distractions, but nothing soothed her. Leaving her alone for a few minutes in hope shed settle never worked; she seemed to know they were nearby, listening to her screams.

Eventually the carers, exhausted, said, Dont worry, this happens. Bring Lily back in a few months; shell settle.

Emily, on her way home, muttered, In a few months? How am I supposed to go back to work? I volunteered for this! Charles replied, I dont like seeing our child suffer either.

Emily then thought of her own parents, now retired and living not far away, and suggested, What if they take Lily to nursery for a while? Charles considered it, Ill ask, but Im not sure theyll agree.

Her grandparents, initially skeptical, eventually took turns driving Lily to the nursery. Miraculously, Lily entered the group calmly, waving goodbye with a little smile. The staff praised them, Shell be fine; just a couple of months more.

Soon the routine settled. Lily attended until 12p.m., then her grandparents would pick her up. Over time, they grew weary of the arrangement, citing health complaintshigh blood pressure, back painas excuses not to continue. Susan, the motherinlaw, bemoaned, Were doing all the heavy lifting while you both work! Charles retorted, Were already stressed enough.

One evening, after a heated argument, Emily received a call from her mother. Ill be in town tomorrow; I have a week off. Ill look after Lily, Susan declared. Emily clapped her hands, relieved, Tomorrow youre here! Were saved! Charles laughed, Greattime to finally get to know the motherinlaw properly.

Susan arrived the next day and, with a grin, said, Well take turns visiting, so Lily gets the care she needs. She reassured Emily, Dont worry about work. Dad will retire in two weeks, and well manage.

The plan worked. Susan drove Lily to the nursery, stayed until noon, then called to let them know shed collect her.

Now, almost a year later, Ian and Susan are shuttling back and forth between our hometown and London every fortnight. Ian, now retired, often spends his days driving Lily to the nursery and waiting for the parents to finish work before heading home. In the evenings he wanders the streets of London, not out of love for the city but because he cant stand watching young couples build lives he never understood. They never want to work, they just order takeaway and watch endless cartoons, he mutters to Susan when they meet after a brief visit. I cant fathom how they survive like that.

Susan sighs, I keep myself busylaundry, cleaning, cooking. What can we do? The younger generation is a different breed. I feel sorry for Lily I cant imagine her without us.

I told Susan about all of this in the hope of some support, but MrsMarjorie Ellis, a former teacher, dismissed my concerns outright. You let a threeyearold dictate your life? She wont sleep in the nursery? Leave her for a day, shell cry for two. Shell get over it!

I tried to defend my motherinlaw, Im just trying to protect her.

Protect? You created the problem! she snapped. If you wanted a proper upbringing, youd have taken charge. Now youre just making things worse. What will you do when she starts school? Sit beside her at the desk? She concluded, I dont approve of your methods. Think before its too late.

Later, Marjorie confronted Ian directly. Ian, are you going to sort out the chaos in your family?

Sort out what? Ian replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Yes, your granddaughter is being spoiled, your daughter is using her parents without a second thought, your soninlaw has dumped his responsibilities onto you, and you two are hopping a 700mile distance every two weeks, yet you sit silent.

Ian answered, Im not sure why youre meddling in our affairs. I never asked for your advice.

Marjorie fell silent, and Ian, taking the moment, said gently, We love our daughter and our grandchild. Our love knows no borders, and we help as best we can. He smiled, descended the stairs, and left her standing, her resolve wavering.

I cant help but wonder whether shes right. Perhaps Im just an old fool trying to keep a family together while everyone else is busy with their own lives. Only time will tell.

Ian.