A Family’s Struggle Over a Birthday Celebration
Irina was standing by the kitchen window, watching as the janitor swept up the last of the yellow autumn leaves. October had always held a special place in her heart because her birthday fell in the middle of the month. For years, she dreamed of celebrating it properly. Now, for the first time in seven years, they finally had the means.
“Misha, what if we finally throw a proper party?” she asked her husband, who was reading the news on his tablet at the kitchen table. “We’ve paid off the mortgage; now we can afford it.”
Mikhail looked up from the screen, a flicker of worry crossing his face.
“What kind of party are you thinking about?”
“I’ve already planned everything,” Irina said, turning toward him with excitement in her eyes. “We could rent a boat for the evening, invite my girlfriends, and set a beautiful table. Imagine the Moscow River, city lights…”
“How much will that cost?” Mikhail interrupted.
“Not too much,” Irina hesitated. “Maybe about one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand. But it’ll be unforgettable.”
Mikhail set aside the tablet and rubbed his nose—a gesture Irina recognized well. It always preceded unwelcome words.
“Ir, remember Mom’s seventieth birthday is in November. If we spend all our money on your party, what will we give her? And how will we celebrate?”
A tight knot formed inside Irina. This was always the case—some priority was placed above her wishes.
“Misha, I’m turning thirty-five—that’s a milestone, too.”
“Of course, dear, but Mom… she’s your mother, and her age is quite different. Maybe postpone your celebration until next year?”
“Next year?” Her voice sharpened. “And what if next year there’s another excuse to postpone? Dad’s birthday, or something else urgent?”
“Don’t be dramatic. We just need to set priorities.”
“I see what our priorities are.” Irina spun back to the window. “For seven years we saved for the apartment. For seven long years, I refused myself everything. And now, just when we can indulge, I have to wait again.”
“Irina, please be reasonable…”
“Reasonable?” she returned, eyes gleaming with tears. “When am I allowed to be unreasonable? When can I want something just for myself?”
“There was always something more important than her desires.”
The following days were marked by a tense silence. Irina acted as if the conversation had never occurred, yet Mikhail noticed her browsing websites for boat rentals and restaurants. He saw her texting friends but closing her phone abruptly whenever he came near.
On Wednesday, Irina’s mother-in-law, Elena Nikolaevna, arrived unexpectedly with homemade pies and evening plans.
“Irina, how are you?” she greeted, kissing her daughter-in-law on the cheek. “Misha told me you want to celebrate your birthday.”
“Yes, but you understand…”
“I do understand. This year is a major milestone for me—I’m seventy, can you imagine? Relatives and colleagues will come. It must be a dignified celebration. You’re still young; you have many birthdays ahead!”
Irina slowly set her cup down.
“So, my birthday can wait?”
“Not exactly wait… maybe just a modest celebration at some café with your girlfriends. It’s better to save money for my jubilee.”
“I understand,” Irina replied quietly.
Mikhail sat silently, simply staring into his plate.
That evening, after Elena Nikolaevna left, Irina locked herself in the bedroom. Mikhail could hear her speaking on the phone, although the words were indistinct. When he knocked, she told him she was tired and wanted to rest.
The next morning, he awoke to find a note on the kitchen table: “Went to Turkey with Katya for the weekend. Don’t worry.”
Mikhail read the note repeatedly, confused. When had they planned a trip to Turkey? None was scheduled.
He tried calling Irina, but she did not answer. Messages via messenger were undelivered.
The weekend dragged agonizingly. Mikhail felt restless, calling Katya’s mother to find out what happened. It turned out the two had bought last-minute vacation packages and flew to Antalya.
“Don’t worry, Mikhail Andreyevich,” Katya’s mother reassured him. “The girls need a break. You’ve had family troubles, after all…”
Sunday evening brought Irina back. She appeared sun-kissed, refreshed, and surprisingly serene. Mikhail greeted her at the airport, clutching a bouquet of flowers and brimming with questions.
“How could you just leave like that? I was worried sick!”
“I warned you,” Irina calmly said, pulling gifts from her bag. “Here, a T-shirt for you.”
At home, she showed photos of their trip—sea, palm trees, and the two of them in elegant dresses beneath a sunset.
“We stayed at a five-star hotel,” she explained, swiping through pictures on her phone. “Spa, massage, restaurants… It’s been so long since I felt truly happy.”
“How much did it cost?” Mikhail asked cautiously.
Irina produced a bank statement and handed it to him.
“You wanted to save money on my birthday to fund Mom’s celebration. I hope you’re satisfied now,” she said, presenting the bill.
Mikhail stared at the numbers, disbelief flooding him. Two hundred fifty thousand rubles for three days.
“Irina, are you crazy? Where did we get that kind of money?”
“Credit card,” she shrugged. “The limit is high; it’s no problem.”
“No problem?” A chill ran down Mikhail’s spine. “I already paid a deposit for Mom’s restaurant, ordered flowers, invited a host… And now we have to pay off your debt too?”
“My debt?” Irina raised her voice for the first time that evening. “It’s OUR debt. Don’t I have a right to spend ‘our’ money?”
“You do, but you should have consulted me first!”
“How did you consult me when you decided Mom’s anniversary was more important than my birthday?”
Mikhail sank onto the couch, holding his head.
“Irina, how will we repay this loan?”
“How did we manage the mortgage for seven years?” she sat beside him. “We’ll find a way. But now you realize I have needs too.”
“But two hundred fifty thousand…”
“Misha,” her tone softened, “I didn’t intend to punish you. I just… I’m tired of being second. Tired that my wishes can be postponed, while others’ cannot.”
“She fought long for recognition of her own desires.”
Mikhail looked up, noticing no anger in her eyes—only exhaustion and vulnerability.
“For seven years, we saved for this apartment,” Irina continued. “I gave up vacations, nice clothes, meetings with friends—never complained because I knew it was important for us. And now, when we finally can treat ourselves, it’s always put off. Other matters take precedence.”
“But Mom…”
“Your mother has had seventy birthdays. And me? When was the last time I celebrated mine the way I wanted?”
Mikhail pondered. Indeed, recent birthdays for Irina had been modest—quiet dinners at home, small gifts, occasional outings with friends. She never voiced complaints, simply accepting the circumstances.
“I hadn’t thought,” he admitted.
“You never thought because you got used to me always understanding and agreeing. But I want to be capricious sometimes. I want my wishes to matter. I’m tired of being the convenient one.”
A week later, Elena Nikolaevna’s jubilee took place. The restaurant bloomed with flowers, and relatives and friends gathered. Irina showed up dazzling in a new dress from Turkey, glowing with a suntan.
During the banquet, Elena Nikolaevna approached her.
“Irina, Misha told me about your trip. It didn’t look very good, honestly.”
“What exactly wasn’t good, Elena Nikolaevna?”
“Spending that kind of money… and leaving without asking…”
Mikhail stepped in with drinks.
“Mom, don’t. Irina had every right to unwind.”
“But the money…”
“We’ll earn more. Trust from my wife—that’s worth more than any money,” Mikhail said firmly.
Elena Nikolaevna looked at her son with surprise.
“I didn’t mean to…”
“Mom, I understand. We’re family, and in a family, every wish has equal importance.”
Irina took Mikhail’s arm.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“No, I should be thanking you,” Mikhail replied. “For opening my eyes.”
That evening at home, Mikhail pulled out his laptop and started searching.
“What are you doing?” Irina asked.
“Looking for a boat rental for next year. Your birthday. A proper, beautiful one with panoramic windows.”
“But we have a loan…”
“If we book early, it will be cheaper, and we can save gradually. By next October, you’ll have the best birthday ever.”
Irina hugged him from behind, resting her face against his shoulder.
“You know, the boat isn’t as important anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because now I know my desires matter to you. And that means more than any party.”
Mikhail turned to her.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to understand.”
“What matters is you understand now,” Irina smiled. “Better late than never.”
- Together they crafted a repayment plan.
- They began saving for future celebrations—birthdays, anniversaries, and small joyful moments.
- They learned that happiness cannot be postponed but must be cultivated daily with mutual respect and care.
The bank statement that caused their first serious marital dispute now rests in their family archive, serving as a reminder: In a household, no desires are more or less important. What matters is loving people learning to truly listen to one another.
In conclusion, this story reveals the delicate balance between personal wishes and family obligations. It highlights the importance of communication, understanding, and prioritizing desires in relationships. Achieving happiness together requires acknowledging each person’s needs and creating shared moments that honor those feelings.