Honestly, Ive no one to blame but myself! My mates sister was sobbing as she spoke. I never imagined things would turn out like this! I havent the faintest idea what to do now. How am I supposed to fix everything without making a complete fool of myself?
My sister got married a few years back.
After the wedding, it was decided that the newlyweds would move in with her husbands mother. My mother has a spacious three-bedroom flat and only one son.
Ill keep one room, and the rest will be yours! said the mother-in-law. Were all sensible, civilised people, so I expect well get along. And if things go south, we can always move out! said the fiancé to his wife at the time. I dont see any harm in giving it a shot, living with my mum. If it doesnt work, we can just find a place to rent
And thats what happened. But, as it turns out, living under the same roof isnt exactly a walk in the park. Both the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law gave it their best, but tensions only grew worse with each passing day. Grudges quietly built up and would explode in arguments that happened more and more often.
You said if it didnt work out, wed get our own place! cried the wife, tears streaming, as she spoke to her husband. But isnt it obvious this isnt working? her husband replied, trying to play it down. Its just petty stuff. No need to pack up and leave just because of a few squabbles.
Exactly a year after the wedding, the wife went on maternity leave, and before long, a healthy baby boy was born.
The arrival of their son happened to coincide with the time when the mother-in-law lost her job and hadnt found new work yet, as employers werent exactly keen to take on someone nearing retirement. So, my sister-in-law and my husbands mother ended up cooped up together all day, every day, with nowhere much to go. The mood at home only got tenser and tenser.
The husband kept himself at a distance from the women, since he was now the sole provider.
We cant just leave my mum to fend for herself hed say Shes got no income. I cant abandon her, and I cant afford to get us a flat and support my mum at the same time. Well move out once Mum finds a job!
But the wifes patience wore thin before her mother-in-law had any luck. She packed up her own things and her sons, and moved in with her own mum. Before she left, she told her husband shed never set foot in her mother-in-laws house again. If he cared about his family, hed better sort something out.
She was convinced her husband would go to any lengths to keep his family together, but she was sorely mistaken.
More than three months have passed since she moved out, and her husband hasnt lifted a finger to win her back. He still lives with his mother, sees his wife and child via Facetime after work, and pays them a visit at her mothers place on weekends.
Essentially, the couple now has a weekend marriage.
Hes got the attention and sympathy of two women at once; plus, his mother is delighted the disloyal wife is gone, and he doesnt need to bother looking after the baby. For him, hes landed on his feet! The mother-in-law certainly isnt faring badly either shes not lost out on anything!
As for his wife, since leaving, shes spent all her time regretting it. She doesnt like the situation one bit and, in spite of everything, still loves her husband, even if she knows hes not in the right.
What did you expect, walking out? he says to her. Youre welcome to come back if you want.
It looks unlikely that hell be moving out of his mums flat in favour of a rented place. And the wife, currently on maternity leave, simply cant afford that option herself.
Is this really how their marriage ends?
Do you reckon theres any chance at all for her to return to her mother-in-laws house and not lose face?
