Every Day with My Mother-in-Law: How She Turned My Life into a Living Nightmare
Not a day goes by without her: how this woman made my life hell.
When Theo and I got married, our firstand what I thought was our wisestdecision was to live far from our parents. He was an engineer at a rather posh private firm, and Id invested my share of Grans flat sale into a mortgage. We were building our little nest, dreaming of peace, cosy evenings, and starting our own family. But who knew his mother would move in with usmetaphorically speaking, at least.
She didnt technically live under our roof, but her presence was everywhere: in every plug socket, every cupboard, every teaspoon. No decisionwhether buying a kettle, curtains, or even a bath matescaped her input.
If I dared mention needing new net curtains, shed swoop in like a decorated general, armed with binders, catalogues, and never-ending advice. For holidays, she scripted events as if we were in an amateur dramatics competition. Once, wed planned to ring in the New Year at a snowy cottage with friends. Everything was booked, the shopping done, the transport sorted. But she put on such a performance even Stanislavski wouldve tipped his hat. Tears, guilt trips, wailing: A night this special, and youd abandon your own mother! Result? We stayed home, money wasted, while she critiqued the tellys star-studded lineup from her armchairlike the Queen holding court.
When I finally got pregnant, Theo and I wanted to turn the spare room into a nursery. We barely mentioned it Next morning, she was on the doorstep, two builders in tow and wallpaper samples under her arm. I didnt even get a word inthe renovations had already begun. Her plans. Her colours. Her vision. And there I stood, in my own home, feeling like a trespasser.
I told my husband a hundred times it was too muchthat I no longer felt at home, that I wanted to pick my own things, from wallpaper to dish sponges. But hed always say the same: Mum just wants to help. Shes got good taste. Its all out of love. And what about mine? My wants? My taste? Do they count for nothing just because I didnt raise such a wonderful son?
Then came the crowning glory. She turned up one day and announced, triumphant: Theo and I are off on holiday. To Greece. I need to rechargeIve been carrying everyone on my back. There I was, seven months pregnant, speechless. Not a word. My husband stammered that he couldnt let her go alone. So, I made it clear: if he left with her, he could forget he had a wife.
The result? She stormed in screaming that I was jealous. That shed given birth to my husband and raised him, and I was just an ungrateful brat. That I couldnt go because of my great big belly, and now I was stopping her from having a break after her thankless life. Long story short: she did everything for us, and we
I dont even know whats right anymore. Im exhausted living as three in a two-person marriage. I dont want war, but I cant take this either. I feel myself disappearingas a woman, a wife, a soon-to-be mum. Im terrified that once the babys here, shell pick not just the nappies but the name, the school, the friends
Ladies, any tips for surviving a golden mother-in-law? Or is this a lost causeshould I just accept shell be here till the end, like a shadow, a voice-over, always louder than mine?
Tell me everything. Ive no idea how to fight this circus anymore.
