I Pushed My Son to Divorce His Wife—And Now I Deeply Regret It…

Ive ended up regretting pushing my son to get divorced

My daughter-in-law dropped off my granddaughter again for the weekend, complained my neighbour Margaret when we bumped into each other on the stairs. I just cant get the child to eat properly! She tells me, Mummy says princesses dont eat much! She takes two bites and thats it! She looks so pale from barely eating, she practically glows in the dark!

Margaret had taken an instant dislike to her son Michaels wife, Emma, the very moment she met her. The problem was simply that Emma was seven years older than Michael. He was just a young lad, fresh out of school.

He hadnt even been with any women before her! Margaret scowled to me. What do you expect? She lured him in with her experience, and thats that!

Emma was indeed strikingelegant, attractive, always well-dressed, and ambitious in her career. I personally couldnt see why Michael was so taken with her; it was obvious. Theres no magic in itmen are visual creatures, after all, and she certainly turned heads.

Emma watched her diet and focused on healthy eating, encouraging their daughter to do the same: eat in moderation, avoid overeating, and take care of your health and figure.

A few months after they started seeing each other, Emma became pregnant. It was hard to say whether it was an accident, a desperate wish to marry, or perhaps even a reaction against her future mother-in-laws sabotageall of it seemed plausible. In any event, Michael was determined to marry Emma, despite being only eighteen. His beloved was twenty-five.

After finishing school, Michael started at the local college. He balanced studying with work so they could rent a flat and live on their own, supporting his new family. Eventually, they managed to scrape enough to buy a small bedsit.

The young couple were happy, but Margaret refused to ease off: she seized upon every opportunity to criticise Emmaher cooking, the way she ironed Michaels shirts (or didnt), or how she dressed the child. As far as Margaret was concerned, Emma had not a single redeeming feature.

Over time, Emma kept their contact to an absolute minimum. She took her daughter to nursery, then to gymnastics and chess club. Shed dash from work straight to pick the child up, then to sessions, rushing everywhere. On top of all that, Emma squeezed in time for the gym, a manicure, the hairdresser Sometimes she was hardly home at all.

Michael would come in to an empty house: his daughter was at activities, his wife busy with her or off looking after herself.

One evening, their neighbour Susana 38-year-old widow raising two teenagersknocked on his door. The tap had suddenly broken in the communal kitchen and water was gushing everywhere. Could Michael help before it flooded the downstairs flats?

Michael was handy, so he quickly turned off the water and found what he needed for repairs. While he worked under the sink, Susan cooked supperspaghetti and meatballs. Out of gratitude, she offered Michael a plate, which he took gladly; Emma never cooked meatballs for him anymore, nor much else, reallyshe never seemed to have the time.

From then on, Susan often invited Michael to stay for supper when his wife and daughter were out. In the warmth of the communal kitchen, over homemade pies and simple meals, they grew close. A spark soon leapt between themneither could say quite how it happened, but before long, those cosy evenings became the highlight of their days.

Of course, in a bedsit, everything is in plain viewtoo many eyes, too many ears. As expected, some nosy neighbour tipped Emma off that Michael wasnt just popping round Susans for a friendly chat.

The row was explosiveeveryone on their floor must have heard it. Proud as she was, Emma threw Michaels things out into the hall and sent him packing, no hesitation.

By then it was late and he couldnt go home to his parents, so he took refuge with Susan, who gratefully welcomed him in.

At that time, Michael was 25, Emma 32, Susan 39, and their daughter was six.

When Margaret found out her son had left his wife, she was delightedfinally, a victory! But when she discovered who hed moved in witha woman with two children, fourteen years oldershe was stunned into silence.

It was strange, considering shed tormented Emma for years simply for being seven years older, yet now said nothing and quietly accepted the new situation. Perhaps shed realised shed gone too far.

The dust settled a long time agoabout fifteen years have passed since Michael and Emma divorced. Hes been with Susan all this time; no children together, but they live in perfect harmony. Despite their age gaphes now 40, shes 54theyre utterly content. Margaret hosts them in her home with warmth and not a word of criticism. Its peaceful, loving, and completely harmonious. And to me, it seems Michael is truly happy.

What do you thinkcan happiness exist if the woman is older?