—Why are you like this with her, Pete? What has she done to you? Can’t you treat a child properly at least sometimes? Praise her, for instance? —And what’s there to praise her for? What has she done to deserve it? I grew up without being praised. And look, I turned out fine!
Maria was ready to dispute his last statement, but she didn’t want to escalate into another argument, as it had become nearly impossible to have a calm conversation with her husband lately. Maria’s family problems weren’t constant. Not long ago, she was happy with how her life had turned out. Her husband earned well and tried to spoil his «girls,» as he affectionately called his wife and daughter. He had been very pleased at the birth of their daughter. The girl was the answer to the couple’s years of prayers, as Anya was born ten years after their wedding.
In the early years of their marriage, neither Maria nor her husband thought much about having children, as they were too young and wanted to live for themselves. But gradually, they acquired a car, an apartment, and travel became a norm. It was time to think about heirs, and that’s when nature gave them reasons to worry.
—Well? What’s the result? — Hope in her husband’s eyes only deepened Maria’s despair. She had come to terms with the pregnancy tests showing negative results each month, but Peter reacted worse each time. He had begun to talk about giving up, as the constant waiting drove him mad. But Maria didn’t want to lose hope. She was sure that sooner or later they would have their long-awaited baby.
—Another miss. But I’m sure next time it’ll work out!
And her confidence did not fail her! One day at work, Masha felt so ill that she had to call an ambulance.
The worried husband, who rushed to the hospital as soon as his wife messaged him, was told by the doctor that the illness was due to the long-awaited pregnancy. Peter didn’t know whether to be happy or worry about his wife’s health.
The pregnancy was difficult for Masha. She spent almost the entire term on bed rest, suffering from early toxemia, and later forced to constantly lie down due to the constant threat of miscarriage.
—If this is the answer to my most cherished wish, then God has a very strange sense of humor. Why do others easily carry five children in a row and feel great, while I can’t carry even one normally? — The future mother could not get used to her condition.
Nevertheless, when the time came, their family welcomed little Anya. But her birth was so difficult for the parents that they decided to stop at one child. However, this decision wasn’t discussed for a long time. The parents simply didn’t want to share their plans with others.
Later, Masha often wondered how things would have turned out if Anya had been a boy, or if they had decided to have a second child. Peter visibly showed he was happy with his daughter, but Masha saw how enviously he looked at boys playing on the playground.
—If I had a son, I would teach him to fish or drive a car. A girl is fine, but what am I to do with her? — The husband would sometimes say out loud, watching his growing daughter.
For a while, the family lived happily. Peter constantly walked with his daughter, played, read books to her, and spent a lot of time with her. He worked hard all year so he could take his little girl to the sea in the summer to breathe the healthy sea air. He gave her gifts on every holiday, regardless of their cost. He took pride in his little girl’s achievements and often boasted of them to relatives and friends.
Anya grew up an amazingly obedient and capable girl. She started walking and talking early, and kindergarten teachers marveled at her cleverness and advised her parents to send her to school earlier. When Anya started first grade, her parents began to receive enthusiastic feedback about their daughter from teachers.
—What a clever girl you have! She catches on quickly and tries to absorb as much information as possible. And how focused and determined she is! We wouldn’t be surprised if she achieves everything she wants in life!
Maria was pleased with such compliments, but Peter was strangely calm, if not indifferent, about them. Anya’s achievements impressed and pleased him less and less each year. It seemed he just took them for granted, but he periodically demanded from her things she was not yet able to do.
—What’s the use of her music lessons if she can’t even wash dishes after herself? What’s the use of her grades if you can’t make her mop the floor! — The husband would grumble whenever Masha brought up that Anya had again come first in something.
—Pete, she’s only ten! She will learn to wash dishes well and mop floors! Everything in its time! Besides, she helps me with other things. When the time comes, I’ll teach her everything a girl should know. Although I don’t think it’s that necessary. Nowadays, you can hire people for everything.
—Of course! Raise a princess with soft hands and support her until retirement! Let her sit on our necks! She’s a girl! If we had a boy, he would’ve already known everything! I’d have taught him everything. But you’re just looking for excuses for your Anya! Watch, you’ll cry over it yet!
Maria was struck by her husband’s tone, so she didn’t support his desire to start an argument.
—I see you’re in a bad mood today. Let’s talk when you’ve calmed down.
At such times, she would take her daughter and leave the house for a walk. By their return, Peter usually calmed down and stopped picking on everything.
But his strangeness didn’t disappear. Moreover, it became more pronounced with each year. By the time Anya finished ninth grade and began to prepare intensively for university admission, attending tutors and studying subjects in depth, the father began to lose his temper more often. And now, not the wife, but the daughter, often became the target of his anger.
—Anya, when did you come home from school? Why is there still a sink full of dirty dishes? Was I supposed to wash them?
—Dad, I’ve only been home for half an hour. I only had time to change and eat. I’ll clean up now!
—When? When mice start running across the table, attracted by the crumbs you left? Is it really that hard to eat neatly or clean up after yourself? What on earth is your mother teaching you!
—Alright, I’m going to clean up now!
—And why are you talking back? Are you an adult now? Watch it, I can still lay one on you! Or do you want to test how well I can handle a belt? — The husband became furious at the slightest provocation, finding a reason for an argument even in trivial things.
—Pete, why are you picking on her? She had seven classes today, then music school, and a tutor. Let her rest! If this bothers you so much, I’ll clean up and do the dishes myself! — Masha didn’t understand her husband’s behavior and defended her daughter as best she could.
—Of course! Do everything for her! Put her on your neck! She’ll soon forget how to tie shoelaces and bring a spoon to her mouth! — It seemed the husband deliberately fueled his own anger, as there were no objective reasons for his dissatisfaction. On ordinary days, Anya obediently did everything her father or mother asked.
—Pete, stop! Anya is an obedient girl! Many envy that we could raise such a good girl. — Masha tried to steer the conversation in a positive direction, but the husband only calmed down when Anya dropped everything and went to fulfill his request.
Things got worse.
Peter started to find reasons to yell at his daughter even where there were none.
—Why are you sprawled all over the sofa? Who reads books like that? Come on, sit properly at the table!
—Dad, but I’m comfortable like this! I’ve been sitting at a table all day, my back hurts!
—Start arguing with me! I’ll show you what «back pain» is. Get up and go mop the floor! And look, I’ll check.
—But I don’t have time! I need to read this book for tomorrow’s lesson. I just mopped the floors two days ago, they’re clean!
—I told you! Get up and get to work! Used to riding on the parental neck and loafing around! — Peter flew into a rage instantly, and soon Anya realized that it was better not to argue with her father, or it would only get worse.
Maria tried several times to talk to her husband to find out the reason for such behavior, but he either silently walked away from the conversation or started an argument. Eventually, Anya herself asked her mother not to confront her father.
—Mom, don’t defend me. When you try to step in, he just gets angrier. I’ll study the lessons later at night. It’s calmer that way.
But soon Anya couldn’t study her lessons in peace either. Peter decided he would now check how his daughter was studying. Everything she read, he forced her to recount from memory. If she hesitated, spoke in her own words, or forgot, he would throw a book at her, yell, and invent punishments: wash this by hand, mop the floor several times. After such treatment, Anya became even more nervous, and her father – shouted even louder.
Gradually, the situation reached a point where Anya would call her mother and ask if her father was home. If he was at home, she would stay at a friend’s house until the evening, and return when he was getting ready to go to bed.
In addition to constant nitpicking, Peter invented a new punishment for his daughter – depriving her of rest. Now he planned vacations or weekends only for himself and his wife.
—Why should I spend on her? Does she deserve it? Let her start working, then okay. She can pay for herself, go on vacation, and go to the movies!
—Pete, she’s a child! When is she going to start working? What are you thinking? If she’s not going with us to the movies, I’m not going either. And we’ll go on vacation just the two of us. If you’re stingy with money for her, I’ll buy her ticket with my own money!
—Great! So, you’ve decided to make me look like a tyrant and yourself like a good mommy! Well, go ahead! Spoil her! We’ll see if she ends up going down a slippery slope! Don’t cry if she starts hanging out and brings us trouble!
—What are you talking about! Listen to yourself! We have a wonderful daughter, but you’re just tormenting the child! I don’t want to talk to you!
—Well, great! I don’t particularly want to talk to you either! Serve me dinner, I’ll eat alone! I don’t want to ruin my appetite with your sour faces!
—No way! Now Anya and I will have dinner! And you can serve yourself. We don’t know how to do anything. I can’t raise a child, and Anya, according to you, can’t do anything at all!
Often, family evenings ended just like that.
Things got worse when Maria’s work schedule changed, and she began to stay at work late. Almost every such day, her daughter would call her in tears, complaining that her father was mistreating her. Maria decided that this could not continue any longer. She laid it on the line — either her husband stopped behaving this way, or they would divorce. And that’s when Peter finally voiced the true reasons for his behavior.
—Divorce? Great! Go away with your worthless daughter! You’re incapable of anything! If you were any good, you would have given me a son, not this! I’ve dreamed of a son for so long, and you spitefully brought me a girl!
—Are you normal? How could I possibly choose the gender of the child? If you hadn’t skipped biology in school, you’d know that the gender of a child depends on the father! So, all complaints to you!
—No! In our family, boys were always born! Only I got a girl. Either you’re to blame because you’re worthless, or you cheated on me! And I, like a fool, have been walking around with horns for years, happy about it! Before paying alimony, I demand a DNA test. Otherwise, you won’t get a penny! Finally learn to appreciate your father!
Maria looked at her husband and didn’t recognize him. It seemed impossible that these absurd thoughts could just appear in his head. After all, when Anya was just born, he never doubted his paternity. But one day she overheard a conversation between her husband and his father.
—So, son, how are you? How’s life?
—It’s terrible, dad! These women have driven me crazy. Masha’s threatening a divorce! I just warned her that I’d file for a paternity test. So I don’t have to pay just anyone.
—Right, son! That’s how you should deal with them! I always told you – she’s not yours! We don’t have girls in our family! She’s not your tribe! She doesn’t even look like you! Kick them both out! And don’t pay anything! Let them dance when they sit without money. They’ll crawl back grateful if you let them return! But I wouldn’t let such a wife back if I were you.
Masha called her mother-in-law and tried to find out what game her father-in-law was playing. It turned out the woman couldn’t really explain what got into her husband’s head.
—Masha, I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Seems like senile dementia has taken over! He always grumbled that you needed to have another boy, but you kept quiet about this issue, and when you firmly said you were stopping at Anya and wouldn’t have more children, it’s like he lost his mind. He got it into his head that Anya isn’t ours! I argued and fought with him, but it’s useless. He’s been getting into Peter’s head, and he’s been upsetting you. I can’t do anything, but you think carefully about whether it’s worth living with my son anymore. He’s turned out just like his father! Stubborn as a mule. Once he’s got something in his head, you can’t beat it out with anything! I love him, but I know his stubborn character. Think about your daughter! Now she’ll start being afraid of men and live her life alone. Or worse – she’ll find herself another tyrant and suffer her whole life! Don’t torture the child – leave my son!
Maria decided to listen to her mother-in-law’s advice and filed for divorce. Peter created scandals whenever he could, but he failed to prove that Anya wasn’t his daughter. After receiving the paternity test results, he threw them on the floor, saying he didn’t believe what was written.
Still, he had to pay child support until she graduated. Anya no longer communicated with her father. After she and her mother began living separately, the girl became much calmer and happier. Maria was glad she listened to her mother-in-law’s advice and chose her child’s happiness.
