My mother-in-law insisted my husband take her on vacation while I was in labor — she had no idea how I’d respond.

“What did you just say?” Tatiana stared at her mother-in-law, stunned that she could even suggest such a thing.

“You heard me! What’s with that reaction? I’m his mother. Anton doesn’t have to cater only to you—he can indulge me too. Or are you against that?”

“I’m not even going to dignify this nonsense with a discussion. What an absurd idea!” Tanya was rattled, but she already knew exactly how she would handle her mother-in-law.

Tatiana was filled with both excitement and fear. It was an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime feeling. Very soon, she’d be holding her child in her arms.

Her much-wanted pregnancy was finally nearing its end. It hadn’t been smooth—there had been a few hospital stays to protect the baby—but now she felt pure joy. She carried a light inside her that made every hardship feel insignificant. Nothing mattered as long as her little one arrived safely.

Their son—still nameless—was restless in her belly, kicking impatiently as though eager to be born. When they had first learned the baby was a boy, she and Anton were thrilled. It was the dream they had shared since their wedding day.

But Klara Karlovna, her mother-in-law, saw things differently.

“Tatiana, don’t go imagining pregnancy is some kind of illness,” she had lectured early on. “We all carried children, we all gave birth. Nobody treated it like something special.”

And true to her word, she had given Tatiana not an ounce of extra consideration.

Tatiana only smiled at her comments. Why argue? She was too happy to let her mother-in-law spoil her joy. To Tanya, the woman seemed to live in her own little world anyway.

As the due date approached, Anton urged Tanya to call his mother to get her opinion on names. She agreed, more for her husband’s sake than her own. She already knew the final choice would be hers, but she didn’t want to upset Anton before such a joyful event.

“Well, what names are you two considering?” Klara asked.

“Maybe Dima. Or Denis,” Tanya answered.

“Denis? That’s ridiculous. Doesn’t sound serious at all. You’d be better off with Valery, or Vitaly. Or Leonid. I knew a Leonid in my youth—what a man he was!” Klara swooned, drifting into yet another story about her past admirers.

Tanya just smiled politely, letting her ramble. Her mother-in-law loved nothing more than to recall her glorious youth, when she imagined herself the center of everyone’s attention.

When the story ended, Tanya gently asked:
“While I’m in the maternity hospital, could you please look after Anton? He’s so helpless. Or maybe I’ve spoiled him too much—he can’t even fry an egg without me.”

“My dear, you forget—Anton is my son. I know perfectly well how to take care of him. Do you really think I’d let him starve or wander neglected? What a foolish thought!” Klara snapped.

Tanya thought she sounded a little offended, but she let it slide. Why sour her mood before such a big day?

But just before the delivery, something happened that finally convinced Tanya her mother-in-law had lost touch with reality.

Klara came over unexpectedly. She was unusually sweet at the door—too sweet—something Tanya had never seen before.

“Well, my dear Tanya, are you ready for the biggest moment of your life? Oh, I remember mine so well! I was defending my dissertation back then, and Ilya, Anton’s father, was helping me. Little Antoshka was eager to be born, but I couldn’t leave in the middle of my defense! I was trembling with nerves. Just as labor pains began, the committee was still peppering me with questions. My Ilya stood up and announced: ‘If you don’t release this woman immediately, she’ll give birth right here before your eyes!’ Everyone panicked, called an ambulance, and I was whisked off to the maternity ward, where Anton was born.”

“Quite a story,” Tanya smiled politely. She had already heard it five times. “Though your son never inherited your passion for science.”

“That’s true. But he has other gifts—like earning money. And that’s more important these days. By the way, when do you go to the hospital?”

“Next week, if everything’s fine. On the tenth.”

“Perfect. I think it’ll go smoothly. You’re young, healthy—everything will be fine.”

And then, after a pause, Klara dropped a bomb.

“So while you’re in the hospital, Anton and I will go on a seaside trip.”

“What?!” Tanya nearly choked. “Where exactly are you planning to take my husband?”

“Why overreact? You’ll be away for days anyway! I haven’t seen the sea in ten years—ten! Why shouldn’t I go now? And really, why should it matter to you where we are?”

“It matters a great deal when it involves MY husband. Why would he be on holiday while I’m giving birth?”

“What difference does it make? You’ll be in pain, recovering. You won’t care what Anton is doing.”

“No! I’m scheduled for a C-section. Within hours I’ll be awake, and my husband will see his son for the first time. I need him there. What you’re suggesting is pure selfishness!”

“Selfishness? Listen to yourself! Why not let him enjoy the seaside with me? I already asked him—he doesn’t mind. He’d gladly take his mother. It’s only a week. We’ll be back in time for your discharge.”

“Forget it. You just told me Anton’s father stood by you when he was born—he supported you. That’s what love looks like. And now you expect me to go through childbirth alone while my husband sips cocktails on the beach? Absolutely not.”

Klara huffed. “So you won’t let him go? You’d rather I drag heavy luggage by myself, travel alone, deal with strangers?”

“Exactly. You’ll go alone.”

She stormed out empty-handed. But she wasn’t finished. On the day Tanya was in surgery, Klara called Anton.

“Why did you listen to your wife and not me? Don’t you love me anymore? I asked you for one thing, and you turned me down—the woman who gave you life!”

“Mom, Tanya didn’t want it. What should I do, start a fight with her before she gives birth? That’s not right.”

“She’s selfish, only thinking of herself!”

“No, Mom. Tanya’s right. For you, it’s just a whim. For her, this is the most important day of her life. You know how hard it was for us to have a baby. And now you’d send me off to the seaside instead?”

Klara muttered, “Nothing in your life is normal. You found yourself someone impossible.”

“Mom, come on. I gave you money—go enjoy yourself. You’re still young, strong, beautiful.”

“At fifty? Young?” she teased.

“Yes. Go with Aunt Lida if you want. But I’ll be here when my son is born. Our Denis.”

“So you chose Denis after all? What about Leonid? Such a great name! Leonid, Lyonya, Leo—”

“Mom, stop. He’s our child, and we’ll decide. Now go pack.”

And so she did—off she went with her friend Lida, spending a lovely week at the September seaside.

When she came back, she hurried to meet her grandson. Tanya and baby Denis were already home.

“Oh, what a darling! Looks like his grandpa Ilya. Don’t you agree, Anton?”

“He looks like himself,” Anton replied warmly.

“Nonsense. You were my copy from birth—stubborn like me. Well, congratulations, Tatiana, for giving us such a strong boy.”

“Thank you,” Tanya said coolly. The sting hadn’t faded.

But Klara quickly moved on.
“By the way, Anton, can you drive me this weekend to Varvara’s? Only fifty kilometers, she invited me. I can’t take the bus!”

“Klara Karlovna, enough already! My husband is staying with me and our newborn. Go wherever you want, even to Africa. But if you make one more demand like this, you won’t be welcome here again,” Tanya said firmly.

Anton only smiled faintly at his mother, his expression saying: She’s my wife. I stand with her.

“Fine, I’ll go myself. Soon she’ll forbid me from seeing my grandson too,” Klara grumbled.

“Exactly. Leave our family alone. We’ve got enough to handle without your constant whims,” Tanya shot back.

And in that moment, Klara finally understood: her son’s household wasn’t ruled by him at all. The once-gentle daughter-in-law had found her strength, and Klara had no choice but to accept it.

Better a fragile peace than endless battles.