The mother-in-law and her country plans

Well, look, last week my mother-in-law, Carmen López, dropped a bombshell that nearly left me speechless. It turns out that this summer she’s taking her daughter Laura’s grandchildren—Pablo and Sofía—to the little house in the village, but she’s decided to bring our six-year-old daughter, Martina, with us for the entire summer! And without even consulting us! When my husband, Javier, and I tried to protest, Carmen just snorted: *”That’s only fair, Elena. I can’t take all the grandchildren to the village.”* Fair? So now our life revolves around her *royal orders*? My blood is still boiling, and I need to tell you because otherwise, I’m going to explode.

It all started a few weeks ago, when my mother-in-law called and spilled her beans about her *plans* as if it were nothing. At first, I didn’t even notice. *”Elenita,” she told me, “this year I’m taking Pablo and Sofía to the village. They’re older now, they’re easier going, and Martina’s staying with you.”* At first, I thought she was joking. Martina LOVES Carmen’s little house—it has a garden, swings, and a river nearby. Every year, she spent a few weeks there, and Javier and I were delighted: Martina happy, we relaxing. But now she decides not to take her and just drops her off at us like a package deal? That’s too much!

I said to Javier: *”Have you heard what your mother came up with? Since when does she make decisions for us?”* He, as always, tried to soften it: *”Elena, Mom wants to spend time with Laura’s children. And Martina will be fine here, we can handle her.”* Of course we can! But that’s not it. Why didn’t Carmen ask us? We have our summer plans: we wanted to take a vacation and go to the beach with Martina. So what now? Do we cancel everything because she feels like it? And the *”it’s only fair”* thing… As if she were doing us a favor!

I tried to speak to her directly. *”Carmen, why didn’t you mention it? Martina loves the village, and we were counting on her to come, as always.”* And she, blunt: *”Elena, don’t start. Pablo and Sofía haven’t been there for a while, so I’m taking them. Martina is yours, so keep busy.”* I almost dropped my phone. Keep busy? Is Martina not her granddaughter now? And why are Laura’s children the favorites? I know Laura lives closer to the village, and Carmen always pays more attention to her children. But to make it so clear… How cheeky!

I tried to explain to him that we have plans, that Martina is going to feel sick… But he cut me off: *”Elena, don’t exaggerate. Martina is staying home, and I’m not made of rubber, I can’t handle everyone.”* Rubber? No one asked her to be! We’ve never pressured her, we always talked it over. But now he’s stuck the decision right there in our faces. Javier, instead of supporting me, just shrugs: *”Mom knows what she’s doing, Elena. Don’t fight.”* Didn’t fight? I’m about to load Martina into the car and take her to the village to see her say no to her granddaughter’s face!

The worst part is Martina. She’s already asking: *”Mom, when are we going to the village with Grandma? I want to go on the swings and pick strawberries.”* I don’t know what to say. That Grandma has chosen someone else? She’s a little girl, she won’t understand, but it will hurt her. I don’t want her to feel less loved. I even proposed a deal to Carmen: she can take the three of us for a month and we’ll pay the expenses. But she doesn’t listen: *”Elena, it’s already decided. Don’t confuse me.”* Don’t confuse her? Am I now superfluous in my daughter’s life?

I spoke to Laura, in case I could convince her mother. But she just washed her hands of it: *”Elena, Mommy’s the one who decides. Pablo and Sofía have been asking to go to the village, and Martina is little, she’ll be fine at home.”* Little? Martina’s only a year younger than Sofía, what difference does it make? I realized Laura won’t lift a finger—it’s great for her that her sons are preferred. And Javier and I have to deal with this *justice* from my mother-in-law.

Now I don’t know what to do. Should we go to the beach like we wanted? But it hurts that Carmen pushed Martina away like that. Should we put Javier on the ropes and make him confront his mother? But I know he’s avoiding arguing with her. He says, “Elena, she’s my mother, she loves Martina, she’s just looking for fairness.” Fairness? Should we take some and leave the other like a forgotten bag?

I’m still not sure what to do. But I know I won’t let Martina feel inferior. If Carmen thinks she can dispense *justice* however she wants, she’s wrong. I’ll make this summer unforgettable for her, with or without a village. And I’ll remind my mother-in-law that her grandchildren aren’t just Laura’s. If she wants to be EVERYONE’S grandmother, she should learn to communicate, not to command. In the meantime, I’m trying not to explode with so much *fairness* and figure out how to explain to Martina why Grandma has been so… special.