My Daughter-in-Law Is Angry With Me Over the Flat and Has Been Turning My Son Against Me

Author Emily TaylorReading 5 minViews 1

My daughter-in-law took offence with me over a house matter and soon began turning my son against me.

My son, George, had the misfortune to fall in with a rather unscrupulous young woman named Charlotte, who seemed to sway him as she pleased. Of late, she has been filling his head with the idea that I care nothing for their happiness and think of no one but myself. She decided as much because I declined to exchange homes with them.

It has been some years now since my husband passed on, and George is my only child. I raised him with love and devotion, ensuring he had a proper education. Before marrying, George lived at home with us. He started working part-time whilst still attending university, and managed to secure a good post immediately upon receiving his degree.

George has always been my pride and joya fine young man who made something of himself. My late husband and I could never afford to buy our son his own home, having always led a modest life. We ourselves didnt purchase a flat until I was forty; prior to that we rented, so a second property for George was out of the question. Nonetheless, I always believed a person should work for what they have, as my husband and I did.

When George first told me he was seeing someone, I was genuinely happy for him. I made every effort to be on good terms with my future daughter-in-law; I never criticised or scolded her. I cared not who my son chose to wedhis happiness was all that truly mattered. At first, I rather liked Charlotte; she seemed polite and humble. But only after the wedding did her true character emerge.

Following their marriage, George and Charlotte honeymooned in Cornwall, and shortly after their return, she resigned from her job. She claimed her supervisors were forever berating her, and she was keen to find a better position. But she never got around to that. For two years now, she has idled about at home, making no move towards employment.

George and Charlotte have been living in her small one-bedroom flat out near the edge of town. As Charlotte doesnt work, George cannot afford a better place, especially since she seems to spend every penny he brings home on beauty parlours and clothing from the high street.

I find it difficult to believe she cannot secure any work after all this time. I suspect she lies when she claims to attend interviews. More than likely, she simply prefers to live off my son and enjoy an easy life.

Once, I asked if they had considered having a child.

What child could we possibly have, squeezed into such a little place? Charlotte replied.

Why not try to save a bit for a mortgage deposit? I suggested.

We’ve nothing left to save. We barely make it to the end of the month as it is, she retorted.

I bit my tongue rather than point out that if she worked, they might have put by a fair sum by now. Had they truly made an effort to save, I could have helped them, as I have managed to save up a decent amount over the years. But for now, I refuse to give them money, knowing Charlotte would fritter it away on trivialities.

Lately, shes begun talking of children again, complaining that time is slipping by and they must consider an heir. But how could they raise a child in such cramped circumstances? Worse still, my son is starting to parrot her words.

Mum, George said, Charlotte and I have been thinking, why dont you swap flats with us? Theres no need for anything legalwe simply exchange, thats all. Youd have plenty of space, and we wouldnt have to fret about a mortgage.

His words pained me deeplysuch a notion could not have been his own. I told him I would not uproot myself, the old saying being that old trees should not be transplanted.

Youve only a few years left until retirement, and then youll be given grandchildren, Charlotte added with a thin smile.

I declined their so-called generous offer. I had no wish to leave my home.

Afterwards, George brought the subject up several more times; each time, his remarks cut deeper. He had never before attempted to take advantage of anyone, yet now his wife was urging him on.

Lets go, George, Charlotte huffed during their last visit. I told you your mother doesnt care whether we have a family or not. Shed never lift a finger to help us!

Since that day, George has avoided me, wont answer the telephone or return my calls. I cannot comprehend what has come over him. He isnt dim, but it seems whenever Charlotte is near, he quite loses his wits.

When Beatrice Discovered She Was Expecting, Her Family Was Shocked—They Disapproved of Her Relationship with a Man They Believed Wouldn’t Stay, Fearing She’d Raise a Child Alone and Face Social Prejudice Beatrice is an ordinary young woman from Birmingham, brought up in a loving family by her mother and stepfather, who was like a real dad to her. With her parents’ unwavering support, she always knew she was loved and could rely on them. Beatrice graduated from high school, but her place at university was uncertain due to her poor command of English. She decided that private tuition would help her pick up the language faster, so she started looking for a tutor. She chose Ronnie, originally from Ghana, who had come to the UK for his own studies. Fluent in English, Ronnie had been tutoring privately for years. At first, the lessons were tough for Beatrice, but over time she warmed to Ronnie, and soon their relationship became something much more. They couldn’t stand being apart. When Beatrice found out she was pregnant, her whole family was in shock. The idea of her being in a relationship with someone they thought wouldn’t stick around filled them with concern. They imagined her raising the baby alone and having to cope with their child standing out from others because of her appearance. After Ronnie received his degree, he did return to Ghana, but he stayed in close contact with Beatrice. They both eagerly awaited the birth of their baby, calling and chatting on Zoom regularly. Beatrice’s baby arrived safely, but ongoing animosity from her family pushed her to make the tough decision to move to Ghana. Life in Africa wasn’t easy for Beatrice and her husband: the climate proved too challenging and they had to return to the UK. In time, they welcomed their second daughter. However, the family continued to refuse contact, and Beatrice refused to leave her beloved husband just to please them. Now, the couple are planning a move to Canada, hopeful that there, they’ll find a more tolerant community.

My Son Spent Years Searching for the Right Woman to Marry, and I Never Questioned His Choices—When He Turned 30, He Finally Met Emma, Who Seemed Perfect for Him Almost every day, I’d hear about how kind and beautiful she was—it was clear my son had truly fallen in love. I liked Emma as well, and he would speak passionately about her to me and his friends, convinced she was the ideal woman for him, so it was no surprise when he didn’t hesitate to tie the knot. As a loving mother, I fully supported his decision. Planning the wedding was no easy feat, but my friends were a tremendous help. The bride’s parents were wonderful and we got on splendidly from the start. At first, everything was blissful, but things shifted over time. Their marriage started to unravel, arguments became more frequent, and I reminded myself it was just their first year—surely things would settle down. Still, I worried because I wanted their marriage to be strong and happy. One evening truly shook me—late at night, my son showed up at my door with his belongings, telling me he had nowhere to go because his wife had thrown him out. He stayed with me for a few days, and Emma never once came round to try to reconcile. This became a recurring pattern. When my daughter-in-law told me she was pregnant, I decided to sit down with them to offer some advice that might help avoid further misunderstandings. Unfortunately, it made things worse—tensions only increased, and my son spent the night at my house even more often. I could see he was struggling; gone was the happy young man I knew, replaced by someone clearly disappointed with life. I couldn’t bear to see my son so miserable in a toxic relationship, so I suggested he think carefully about whether it was worth staying married. I told him he could be a wonderful father even if he lived separately. He soon filed for divorce. Not long afterwards, Emma came to me, asking for my help to persuade my son to call off the divorce, insisting she didn’t want to break up their family. I’d often advised her to look after her marriage, but now she was blaming me for interfering when my son filed for divorce. Now I wonder if I should have encouraged my son to end his marriage. His wife resents me, and my son himself seems to be drifting further away from me. Perhaps they still love each other? Living apart feels wrong, but living together wasn’t working either.

My Son’s Girlfriend Can’t Do the Basics… What Should I Do? My mother-in-law passed away several years ago, and after her funeral, I promised myself that I’d live by the rule: for the departed, it’s either all good or nothing at all. I also swore to myself—no matter who married my son—I would never turn into her. But intentions are one thing, and life is another. My only son, Alex, just turned 25 and brought home a girlfriend at the start of summer. Sticking to my decision not to interfere in his choices, I welcomed her warmly and tried to keep an open mind. I swore I wouldn’t look down on her, nitpick, or lecture—my late mother-in-law did all that, which led us to barely stand each other. I don’t want to drive Alex or his girlfriend away. Honestly, I even enjoy making them coffee, knowing exactly how they like their breakfast, and spoiling them on weekends—even though weekdays are too busy for any extras. So I make myself scarce—off with my husband to the countryside, visiting friends for chutney and pickling sessions, or popping round to my mum, leaving the young couple the house to themselves. Recently, though, something funny but also a little worrying happened, and I felt compelled to share. One evening, Alex’s girlfriend showed off a pretty, cheap new top she bought on her way home from work—a bargain because one of the buttons was missing. She tried it on, it looked lovely—and the next day, when I asked if she’d wear it to our visit, she didn’t. Why? Because… she couldn’t sew the button back on. “Oh, come on!” slipped out before I could stop myself—I was stunned that a 22-year-old woman didn’t own a needle, thread, or spare buttons. And tomorrow, darling, what then? How will you manage the house and family, or handle important decisions? Family challenges indeed! Now I don’t know what to do—should I just sew the button back on without another thought, show her how it’s done, or leave it—her blouse, her business? One thing’s clear—I don’t want to be a ‘bad’ mother-in-law. I’ve seen what that’s like, and I want no part of it.