“I Never Expected My Only Son Would Turn Me Away at His Wedding—Now I Wonder if I Should Give Him th…

No, theres no need for you to come right now. Just think about it, Mum. The journeys long, youd spend the whole night on the train, and youre not exactly young anymore. Why give yourself all that hassle? Besides, its springyour garden must need plenty of tending, my son tells me.

But, James, darling, what do you mean, Why? We havent seen each other in ages. And Im dying to meet your wife properlythey say a mother-in-law should really get to know her daughter-in-law, I reply honestly.

Well, how about thisjust wait until the end of the month, all right? Well come and see you ourselves, promise. Its Easter soon, so well have a long weekend. Itll be nice, my son says, trying to reassure me.

Truthfully, I had been all set to visit them, but I trusted him and agreed not to go anywhere, to wait at home instead.

But no one came. I tried to ring James a few times, but he cut the call short. Later, he called me back, saying he was far too busy and that there was no point in waiting for him.

I was beyond disappointed. I had been preparing to welcome my son and daughter-in-law. Hed married half a year ago, but I still hadnt set eyes on her.

I had James when I was thirty, as they say, for myself. Id never married, so I decided at least to have a child. Perhaps it was a selfish decision, but Ive never once regretted it, even though life was tough. There was hardly any money, and we were surviving, not living. I took on as many jobs as I could, just so my child would have what he needed.

He grew up and moved to London for university. To support him in those early days, I even took cleaning jobs in other cities to send him enough to get by in the capital. My heart was full knowing I could help my child, in whatever way I could.

By the third year, James was earning a bit himself. When he finished university and found work, he was able to stand on his own feet.

James visited home, but it was rareabout once a year. As for London, Im ashamed to say, Id never been there myself.

I thought Id definitely go when my son got married. I even started putting money aside for that, and managed to save up £1,500.

Six months ago, James rang me with the long-awaited newshe was getting married.

Mum, but please dont come just yet. Were only registering the marriage for now, well do a proper wedding later, he warned.

I was upset, but what could I do? James introduced me to his wife, Sophie, over video call. She seemed nice. Very pretty. And well-offher fathers some bigwig, apparently. All I could do was be glad that he had it so good.

Time ticked by, but my son didnt come home, nor did he invite me round. I could hardly wait to see Sophieor to give my boy a cuddleso I decided enough was enough. I bought a train ticket, packed up homemade food, even baked some bread and grabbed a few jars of preserves, and set off. I called James just before boarding.

Mum, honestly! Why did you do that? Ill be at work, I cant even come get you. Heres our address, just get a taxi, James said.

I arrived in London early in the morning, called a cab, and was a bit gobsmacked by the fare. Still, the city looked lovely in the morning, so I watched the views from the window.

Sophie opened the door, didnt even smile or hug me. Just stiffly told me to come into the kitchen. James had left for work already.

I started unpackingpotatoes, beetroot, eggs, dried apples, pickled mushrooms, gherkins, tomatoes, a few jars of homemade jam. Sophie watched in silence, then announced coldly that Id brought it all for nothing, as they neither ate such things nor did she cook at home.

What do you eat then? I asked, a bit puzzled.

We order in every day. I dont like cooking, it leaves such a smell in the flat. And I simply cant stand it, Sophie said.

Before Id recovered from that, a small boy, about 3 or so, wandered in.

This is my son, Daniel. Say hello to your grandmother, Daniel, Sophie said.

Daniel? I repeated, a bit unsure.

Yes, Daniel. Not Danny, and certainly not Dan. I dont like people changing names.

Alright, as you say, Sophie.

Its Sophie, not Soph, if you dont mind. In London, people stick to proper names, but how would you know

I wanted to cry. Not because James had married a woman with a childhed never told me about thatbut because hed hidden it from me.

But that wasnt even the biggest surprise. I glanced up and saw a huge wedding portrait on the wall.

Oh, so you had a proper wedding then? At least youve got some lovely photos, I said, trying to change the subject.

What do you mean? Of course there was a wedding200 guests. The only one missing was you. James said you were a bit under the weather. Really, maybe it was for the best, Sophie said, giving me a cold look.

Would you like some breakfast?

Yes please.

Sophie put a mug of tea and a few costly cheese slices in front of me. That, to her mind, was breakfast.

I wasnt used to that. After a journey, I needed a good meal. I thought Id fry up some eggsId even brought my own breadbut she flat-out forbade me to cook anything in her kitchen, because she didnt want it to smell.

She wouldnt touch the bread either, saying that she and James only ate health foods.

By then, Id gone off the idea of eating anyway. I was so hurt that my own son had been ashamed to invite me to his wedding. Id waited years for this; Id scrimped and saved, for nothing.

I sipped my tea in silence. Sophie didnt say a word either. It was all so stilted and cold. The little boy ran over and clung to me. I wanted to cuddle him, but Sophie leapt over and practically pulled him away, warning me offwho knows what I might have brought with me, she said, and he was just a child.

I hadnt packed any treats for him, so I offered him a jar of my raspberry jam, A little something sweet with your pancakes, perhaps?

Sophie snatched the jar from my hands: Honestly, how many times must I say? We only eat healthy foodno sugar!

I felt tears brimming and didnt bother finishing my tea. I went out to the hall and started putting my shoes on. Sophie didnt even blink, didnt ask where I was going.

I stepped outside, sat on a bench by the flats, and finally let myself cry. Id never felt so low.

Later, I saw Sophie take out the rubbishand all my homemade food with itdumping it in the bins.

I couldnt believe it. Once shed gone, I gathered everything up, packed it back into my bags, and trudged to the train station. Luckily, someone had just cancelled a ticket, so I managed to buy one heading home that same evening.

By the station was a little café. I treated myself to some stew, a bit of roast beef, potatoes and salad. I was starving. It cost a fair bit, but I thought, after all thisdont I deserve a decent meal?

I put my bags in left luggage and spent a few hours walking around London. I liked the city, and for a while, I even forgot my troubles.

I didnt sleep on the train home. I just cried quietly. What hurt most of all was that James never even rang to ask where I was.

Truth be told, Id sooner expect snow in summer than for my child to treat me like that. Hes my only son, all my hopes pinned on him, but in the end, it turns out I mean nothing to him.

Now I dont know what to do with the money Id saved up for his wedding. Should I give James the £1,500 anyway, so he knows his mum always cared? Or keep it, as he hardly deserves it?

Sometimes, life teaches us the hardest lessons through our children. Ive learnt that love shouldnt come with conditions or be given only to those who appreciate it. At the end of the day, self-respect and kindness to yourself are just as important as kindness to others.