**”Get a job already! How much longer do you plan to rely on me?! I’m breaking my back working every single day, while you just stay at home!
And don’t give me that excuse about taking care of the kids! Your mom helps out, and the eldest will be starting school soon — he doesn’t need constant supervision.
It’s time to wrap up your maternity leave and start earning your share.
Dima first met Liza when she was twenty, and he was five years older. At the time, he had already graduated from university, securing a solid career in the gas industry with excellent prospects for advancement.”**
Liza was in her fourth year of university, preparing for a career in civil service.
She and Dima first crossed paths through mutual friends. It was a lively gathering packed with people, yet Liza found herself standing off to the side, uninterested.
She never cared much for loud parties filled with strangers but had agreed to come at a friend’s request.
“Hey, why are you just standing there? Join the fun! Around here, we don’t do boring,” the young man interrupted her solitude. “I’m Dima. What’s your name?”
“Liza. I’m fine, really — I just don’t enjoy all the noise and chaos that much.”
“To be honest, I feel the same way. I just needed a break—work has been on my mind nonstop,” Dima admitted. “How about we slip away from the crowd and take a walk?”
“The weather’s perfect, and the avenue is beautiful this time of night.”
Liza didn’t hesitate — she agreed to go for a walk.
They spent a wonderful evening together, strolling through the city’s glowing streets, sharing ice cream, enjoying street musicians, and talking for hours.
The two met several more times, with Dima always taking the lead—inviting her to the movies, cafés, or simply out for a walk. Then, out of the blue, he asked her to join him at a family gathering. Liza felt flustered and hesitated.
“Are you sure? Maybe you should go without me? It’s your family, and I don’t know anyone. They might wonder why you brought a complete stranger.”
“Come on, don’t overthink it. I want you to meet my mom, dad, and the rest of my family. They’re all curious about where I keep disappearing to—it’s time to let them in on the secret.”
Despite some initial embarrassment, Liza ended up having a wonderful evening. They were celebrating the anniversary of Vladimir Petrovich, Dima’s father.
Margarita Semyonovna, Dima’s mother, stayed by Liza’s side, introducing her to guests and lifting her spirits.
By the night’s end, Liza was dancing with the guest of honor and savoring the cake.
Somehow, without much notice, the two young people became a couple. A year later, they were married. After the wedding, they settled into Dima’s apartment — a two-bedroom his parents had gifted him upon graduation.
For several years, they rented out the apartment before finally settling in. They freshened up the space with minor renovations and made it their home.
Six months later, Liza became pregnant, and the couple eagerly prepared for their first child. In early summer, shortly after earning her diploma, Liza gave birth to a baby boy. They named him Roma.
Life moved forward as expected—Dima earned a promotion, stepping into the role of department head, which came with a higher salary.
Liza didn’t have to work; she stayed home, dedicating herself to raising their son.
As Roma grew older, Liza signed him up for sports, then English lessons. Her days stayed full—picking him up from kindergarten, taking him to activities, cooking, and keeping the house in order.
When Roma was five and a half, Liza became pregnant again. They had been planning to grow their family for a while, so the news brought them joy, and they eagerly awaited the baby’s arrival.
Then one day, Dima came home and shocked his wife:
“Sweetheart, I have to leave for a work assignment. It’s going to be a long one — anywhere from six months to a year.”
“Dima, how is that possible? Our baby is almost here, and you’re really planning to go leaving me alone?”
“Lizonka, it’s not like I want to go. I hate the thought of leaving you, but I don’t have a choice. They’re launching a new office in a small northern town.
I have to organize everything, make sure operations run smoothly. I’ve been put in charge. But the pay will be better, and this could get me a promotion in the company!”**
Liza had no choice but to come to terms with her husband’s departure, even though she was already six months pregnant.
“To make things easier for you while taking care of Roma—and later, the baby—why not stay with your parents for now?
Your mom can help, and you won’t feel alone. Plus, we can rent out our apartment—the extra income would be really useful,”** Dima had it all figured out.
“Oh, wonderful. You’ve planned everything out and made the decision for me. Did you even bother to ask if I want to move back in with my parents?”
Still, Liza ended up relocating to her mom and dad’s place. Their three-bedroom apartment had plenty of room for everyone. While they went along with their son-in-law’s suggestion, her parents weren’t exactly overjoyed about their daughter moving back in.
They had grown accustomed to a quiet life, so the constant presence of their boisterous grandson unsettled them. And soon, a newborn would arrive, filling the house with nonstop cries.
“Daughter, settle Roma down—he’s too loud. Your father’s blood pressure is rising; he needs rest! Find him a quiet pastime so he’s not dashing through the house like a wild child!”
“Mom, he’s only six! Of course, he wants to run and jump. He spent the whole day at kindergarten trying to behave, and now he just needs to burn off some energy,” Liza countered defensively.
Three months later, Liza welcomed a baby girl into the world, and they named her Mashenka. Dima even made it in time to pick up his wife and daughter from the maternity hospital.
When he arrived at the doorstep holding an enormous bouquet of roses, Liza’s heart swelled with happiness. She dared to hope that he would stay for good and that their life together would return to how it once was.
But reality had other plans:
“I’m only here for a week—to see you and meet our daughter. After that, I have to go back; things aren’t settled yet.”
Once her husband left, life fell back into the same exhausting routine, with little rest or joy. Despite living under her parents’ roof, Liza received minimal support from them.
Every morning, she hurried to take Roma to kindergarten, then rushed back in the evening to pick him up—all while pushing little Mashenka in the stroller.
Thankfully, spring had arrived, sparing her the hassle of bundling and unbundling the baby in layers of clothing.
At home, the usual household duties awaited—laundry, cleaning, cooking. Ever since Liza had moved back, her mother had slowly stepped away from handling these tasks.
“It’s already tough for me to handle everything. Since you’re living with us again, the household responsibilities should be yours.”
When Liza hesitantly pointed out that managing two children—one still an infant—would be overwhelming, her concerns were met with silence. She had no choice but to cope alone, occasionally venting to her husband over the phone about how much she struggled without his support.
By the time Mashenka was three months old, her parents started urging Liza to return to work:
“You can enroll her in daycare. I heard new groups have opened—they take babies as young as three months. They feed them, change them, even help with their development.”
“Roma is already big enough—he’ll be starting school. We’ll sign him up for after-school care, where he’ll spend the day, and a teacher will help him with homework. Meanwhile, you’ll be earning money. You can’t just sit around forever!” her mother declared.
“Mom, don’t you see? Mashenka is still so little! She needs me, not some strangers at daycare!” Liza protested.
But no matter how much she resisted, her parents remained firm. They kept reminding her that children grow up, expenses increase, and it was time for her to start working again.
Liza had hoped her husband would take her side and stand up to her parents, but his phone call completely shattered her expectations:
“That’s enough, Liza! You’ve been relying on me for too long. Mashenka is big enough now—you can send her to daycare. Your parents already called me, saying they can’t get through to you about going back to work.”
“Dima, are you serious?! I’m still breastfeeding Mashenka! How can I leave her in daycare and work all day? Have you all lost your minds?”
“You earn enough! Why should I rush to send my daughter to daycare and start working now?” Liza argued.
“Exactly! I’m the only one providing for this family. Your maternity benefits are practically nothing. Stop wasting time—go get a job!” her husband snapped.
Desperate, Liza turned to her in-laws for support, but they sided with Dima, insisting it was time for her maternity leave to end.
“Lizonka, think about it—you’ve been at home for over six years, ever since Roma was born. You haven’t worked a single day since university.
And what about your pension? If you don’t start now, you’ll regret it later. Your parents and Dima are right—just accept it,” her mother-in-law urged.
Only Liza’s friend stood by her side:
Have they lost their minds? Daycare? Do they even know what it’s like there?”
“There are only two caregivers for a dozen infants—how can they possibly give proper attention to each child? Do they really think that’s good care?”
“And what about Roma? He’s starting school—he’ll need help too! Someone has to take him, bring him home, and make sure he does his homework.”
“Forget that after-school care! A child is already exhausted after half a day at school, and they expect him to stay there until evening? That’s insane!” Lena fumed.
“Lenochka, what do I do?! Dima, my parents, my in-laws—everyone is pressuring me, forcing me to go back to work,” Liza sobbed.
“Liza, it’s your decision. You know me—I’m independent, and I’d never put up with this kind of treatment.”
My belief is this: if a husband makes such remarks and sends you to work while your baby is still tiny, then he doesn’t truly need you.
He’s probably already found someone up north and now has no idea how to break free from his wife and kids! Just think—how could he have lasted there without a woman’s warmth for more than six months?
Liza’s thoughts pieced everything together: it all added up. Dima had stayed away too long, was distant in calls, and lacked affection. He never spoke of love or said he missed her.
“It looks like it’s finally time to start living on my own, to focus on myself and the kids,” Liza decided.
That very day, she began searching for a place to rent. She left her parents’ home, unwilling to stay with those who offered her no support. Using the child benefits she had carefully saved, she was able to secure a small studio near her friend.
Lena continued to help her now and then—sometimes picking up Roma from school or watching the little one.
Liza filed for divorce, along with alimony for both herself and the children. Her husband, as if expecting it, didn’t even pretend to be upset.
Later, mutual friends confirmed what she had suspected—he had indeed found someone else during his business trip. Lena had been right.
The beginning was rough, and money was in critically short supply. But with alimony and benefits, Liza managed to pull through.
She secured a remote job, and when her daughter turned two, she enrolled her in daycare and returned to work.
