Tom has been away for four days visiting his family. While he was gone, I decided to give the garden a makeover to create somewhere for the children to actually be able to use. All of my children, Susie and her two children, and my two oldest nephews came to help. By the end of it, the garden not only looked good, but it was finally a usable space again.

When Tom came back this evening, he saw the garden and, instead of saying it looked nice, or praising our hard work, or even just thanking us, he got angry. He said we should have left it alone. I can only guess it’s because I proved him wrong – after all the times he’s told me I can’t do something, that I’m too stupid, or too lazy. Or maybe it’s because it puts him to shame, since he never lifts a finger to help.

Either way, I don’t care. The children now have a garden to play in again, and that’s what matters most to me.