I always beat myself in the chest for always lending a hand where people could do something themselves.
As a result, I am the only one who is left with her hand in the potty, and everyone else is fine.
I have an older brother, Zygmunt, and we have been very close friends since childhood. I am glad that we have managed to maintain our warm relationship over the years. Zyga has been married for a long time, I am also married and we both have school-age children. We live in the same city and see each other very often.
Recently my brother finally decided to take out a mortgage because the preferential programs in all banks were coming to an end. He bought a two-room apartment in a new building on the outskirts of the city. Before that, they had been renting an apartment for many years – they changed addresses three times in 10 years.
My husband and I were luckier, of course – we live in a three-room apartment belonging to his parents, who are retired and moved to his father-in-law's small town in another city.
Zyga called me first with the good news about buying the apartment:
-Lidka, that's it – I got the keys. We're starting the renovation, there are only bare walls. We just have to decide where to stay while the work is done – We have to leave the rented apartment in a week… Maybe we can rent something for a few months.”
-No way! You already have huge expenses. Come live with us – I replied without thinking.
Our family life changed dramatically in a week: after all, 6 people in a three-room apartment is a lot. But I was sure that we would manage to organize our lives – after all, we have two women for two men and two teenagers! But as it turned out, I rejoiced too soon. My sister-in-law, Anka, is a peculiar girl. Although we are both in our forties, she seems to be stuck at 25.
Maybe I think so because Zyga is five years older than his wife and constantly emphasizes his masculinity around her. Before my brother bought the apartment, I thought that what do I care about the nuances of their relationship? They live together, my brother is happy and that is the most important thing.
But now my sister-in-law's infantilism has become my problem. For the first week, my brother, his wife, and son lived with us, and I took care of everything. My daughter at least took care of my cousin, she is two years older than him: she woke him up, helped him with his homework, picked him up from school. And I prepared food for our whole family, did laundry, cleaned. It was strange to me that Anka never offered to help during this time. At the end of the second week, I simply gave in and decided to talk to my sister-in-law.
-You work remotely, you sit with your laptop 24/7. Can you at least cook soup for all six of us or even basic pasta ? I am torn to shreds! – I said.
-Oh, Lidka, I don't cook that much… Zygmunt always feeds Pawełek for breakfast by himself, they go together. For dinner I cook something, or mom brings it. She often comes to us, and Pawełek is almost always with her too… – Anka replied in a lazy voice.
-Okay, cooking is not your thing. What about washing and ironing? Look how many people we have now! And that's for at least two months – I continued, barely holding myself back
-Your washing machine is completely different… And the iron too. And what if I break something? – my sister-in-law said quietly and again stared at the laptop. “Mm-hmm, my brother has an interesting life,” I thought.
Late in the evening, when the children were already asleep, Zygmunt came to my kitchen.
-Lidka, why did you do that? – he asked me sternly. It turned out that Anka had complained to Zygmunt that I wanted to involve her in the housework. Although I don't throw anyone out because they would have nowhere else to go, the atmosphere in the house is thick and tense.
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