Unanticipated Guests Stir Family Strains
“Natasha, our visitors will arrive in just two hours!” The man spoke with urgency over the phone. “Is everything ready?”
Glancing toward Alena, who had finally fallen asleep after a restless night, Natalia struggled to hold back tears. “Andrey, I’ve only just gotten ready to go to the store. Alena was crying all night; I barely had a moment to sit.”
Her husband, clearly disturbed, proposed, “Mom wants everything to be perfect. Maybe we should order food?”
“Delivery takes too long on Sundays—about two hours. I’ll quickly go get some ready-made dishes,” Natalia resolved.
“Mom will definitely be upset,” Andrey sighed. “She called yesterday to say she’s bringing her famous cabbage pie. You know how proud she is of her cooking.”
Natalia remembered well; Galina Petrovna often boasted about feeding the whole family during celebrations and having a refrigerator stocked with homemade food, claiming she lived for her family.
“What can I do? I really can’t stand by the stove now; Alena just fell asleep in her crib.”
“All right, hurry and get back while she sleeps. I’ll try to come home early from work,” her husband assured.
Gently covering her daughter, Natalia gathered her things. Her tired reflection in the mirror showed dark circles beneath her eyes. Brushing her hair quickly and putting on her jacket, she rushed to the store.
“Olivier salad, crab salad, herring under a fur coat,” she softly recited while filling her basket with prepared meals. “Cutlets, bread, tea, candies.”
Her phone buzzed repeatedly.
“Natasha, we’re almost there!” cheerfully exclaimed seventeen-year-old Lena, her husband’s younger sister. “I’m so eager to see my niece! Did you prepare anything tasty?” the girl teased.
“Of course, Lena,” Natalia replied as she paid at the checkout. “Everything will be ready.”
No sooner had she unpacked the groceries than the doorbell rang. Galina Petrovna appeared with a massive bag, accompanied by her husband Viktor Ivanovich carrying a suitcase, and Lena holding a beautifully wrapped gift.
“Where’s my granddaughter?” the mother-in-law sang, scanning the hallway. “And why is it such a mess here?”
“Please, come in,” Natalia greeted, attempting to smile while taking their coats. “Alena is sleeping right now.”
“Sleeping?” Galina Petrovna exclaimed in surprise.
“Mom, be quiet,” hissed Lena. “You’ll wake the baby!”
But it was too late—sobbing sounded from the nursery.
“I’ll go to her myself!” the mother-in-law declared, striding toward the room.
“Wait, I…” Natalia tried to intervene, yet Galina Petrovna had already picked up the child.
“Good heavens, she’s all wet! When did you last change her?” the older woman asked sharply.
“About an hour ago,” Natalia stammered, overwhelmed.
“In our days, there were no diapers! We used simple cloths, and the children stayed dry!” Galina Petrovna proudly chimed.
Trying to divert the conversation, Natalia suggested, “Let me set the table—you must be tired from the trip.”
“What’s there to set?” the mother-in-law scoffed, inspecting the kitchen. “Is this store-bought food? Viktor, look at the youngsters these days! They buy everything ready-made!”
Viktor Ivanovich grunted and sat down at the table.
“I’d like to eat,” Lena timidly whispered, eyeing the salads.
“Wait!” Galina Petrovna interrupted. “Let’s heat my pie. Natasha, does your oven work?”
“Yes, it does,” Natalia exhaled, feeling a wave of dizziness from exhaustion and stress.
“The salad is too sour!” Lena grimaced after tasting the Olivier. “And the cutlets are overly salty!”
“I told you!” Galina Petrovna proclaimed triumphantly. “This is the result of not cooking with your own hands! I would never serve anything I didn’t prepare myself to guests.”
At that moment, the entrance door slammed open.
“Hello everyone!” Andrey’s voice echoed as he returned from his night shift at the hospital. “How are things?”
“Hello, son,” Galina Petrovna exclaimed. “Can you believe it? They can’t even feed us properly after a long trip! All store-bought food.”
“Mom,” Andrey sighed, sinking onto a chair. “Natasha didn’t sleep all night. She had no chance to cook.”
“I worked, cooked, and raised you all those years! I managed everything!” the mother-in-law proudly declared.
“You had your grandmother living here to help,” Viktor Ivanovich quietly remarked, earning a disapproving glance from his wife.
“We’re visiting for the first time in a year. Natasha’s home all day and could have prepared something for the family’s arrival. Am I wrong?” Galina Petrovna questioned everyone.
No one replied.
Tears welled in Natalia’s eyes. The breaking point came when Alena cried again, still slowly held by her mother-in-law.
“Please give me my daughter,” Natalia pleaded. “It’s time to feed her.”
“I’m calming her down now,” Galina Petrovna said, unwilling to release the child. “In our days, babies were fed every hour and were healthy!”
“Mom, give her to me,” Andrey said firmly. “Natasha, can you feed Alena? We’ll order pizza or sushi in the meantime.”
“Sushi?” the mother-in-law objected. “I brought a pie!” She finally handed the baby back to her daughter.
“Then we’ll have both pie and sushi,” Andrey declared. “And let’s make a deal: no lectures. Natalia is an amazing mother doing her best.”
“But…” Galina Petrovna started to protest.
“No buts, Mom. Either you accept our rules, or there’s a hotel,” Andrey said unexpectedly firmly.
Silence fell over the room. Everyone understood the seriousness of his words.
“Son…” the mother-in-law began but fell silent, meeting his resolute gaze.
“How about some tea?” Viktor Ivanovich suggested peaceably.
Galina Petrovna nodded quietly, sat down at the table, and only then did everyone relax enough to enjoy dinner. Natalia felt a much-needed sense of relief wash over her.
Key Insight: In families, often the simplest acts of empathy and acceptance can overcome difficulties and sustain harmony.
- Tensions between relatives may ease through mutual respect and support.
- Despite fatigue and disagreement, the health and serenity of both children and adults remain paramount.
- Listening and compromising in conflicts fosters a nurturing home environment and prevents needless disputes.
Ultimately, this story highlights how understanding and cooperation within a family are crucial for maintaining peace amidst challenges.