My daughter threw her husband out of their home, can you even fathom it? She’s only been married for a year and is already filing for divorce! Her father and I prepared a wedding fit for royalty, handed her the keys to her grandmothers flat, and…
What happened then?
My girl just couldnt get along with her mother-in-law. The lad she wed is decent, I cant say a bad word about him.
His mother raised him and his sister alone. Lifes hardships forged her character shes strict, commanding, never lets go. Her children have lived in her shadow their whole lives.
Her eldest girl was single until she was thirty, only because her mother never cared for any of the suitors. Now grown, still she wont lift a finger without her mothers say-so. Even when picking wallpaper, shell ring up her mum for advice, and mum will decide for her.
My son-in-law has a soft backbone; he obeys his mother without question. My daughter is nothing like that. She spends every weekend working on their cottage in the countryside. Mother-in-law wont let the children take a seaside holiday, claims its a waste of pounds. If theyre desperate for a swim, she says, let them splash about in the river.
Mother-in-law never gave her blessing to my daughters marriage. She disliked her from the start, made her feelings plain as day. Right after the wedding, she hurried to size up my girls skills as a homemaker. There was no hiding her disappointment she declared the flat belonged to her family. My daughter stopped visiting, sensing the hostility. She refused to step foot in the country cottage, too.
A year after the vows, my daughter decided she fancied a trip abroad, maybe to Spain or Egypt. Why not? She earns a good wage. Her husband is no slouch either. They talked about it, started hunting for flights. Then his mother got wind of their plans The woman shook her head.
You want to go to Egypt? Are you really so worn out you need a holiday? If youve got spare money lying about, hand it to me, Ill find a decent use for it. Your sea is your country house. If you ignore me, son, remember youve no mother.
Her husband began persuading her his mother was right. My daughter hated it:
We always do what your mother wants. When are we going to live for ourselves? When will our hour come? So long as she lives, she wont let us wander further than the edge of her garden! said my daughter, and she jetted off on holiday without her husband.
His mother instantly turned him against her. She whispered, Shes got a lover in Spain why else would she travel alone? She needled him until he agreed to the divorce.
Maybe thats for the best. It could have been worse, suppose there were children. My daughter would have spent her days answering to her mother-in-law for every tiny thing even what underclothes to buy for her child. She wasnt going to dance to her tune.
My daughter holds a grudge for time wasted. But she refuses to endure such treatment, refuses to live by someone elses script. Shes certain shell meet another man, and as for her ex-husband let him stay with his controlling mum!
