I’m Ayano, and I’m raising two kids—Kou, who’s four, and Mimi, who’s two—with my husband, Hiroshi. Since we both work, we split all our chores and parenting duties right down the middle. Things are always hectic, but I’m lucky that Hiroshi is so hands-on and great at helping out around the house. My in-laws live about a 30-minute drive away, and they’re both such active, cheerful people. They’ve always been wonderful with the kids, so we’ve made it a tradition to take trips together to places like amusement parks and aquariums.
My in-laws are bright, kind, and so easy to get along with. My kids and I have always absolutely adored them. Recently, we heard that my sister-in-law was going through her second divorce. According to my husband, she just “isn’t cut out for marriage.” From the few times I’ve met her, she seemed like a perfectly normal, regular person, so… I just figured that’s life, you know? Raising two kids on her own can’t be easy for her. I’m sure my mother-in-law has been worried sick about her. Hiroshi and I just looked at each other and agreed that, of course, we’d love to have her and the kids join us.