Before I married my husband Jack, I got on rather well with his parents. The relationship wasnt perfect, but it was warm enough. Since Jack was still living at home back then, Id often chat with his mum and dad when I visited. We had small disagreements now and then, usually about what to watch on telly, but I always tried to avoid any proper rows, usually siding with my mother-in-law. Everything was going smoothly enough until our wedding day.
After the reception, we went back to Jacks parents house, where they absolutely piled my plate with food, insisting I eat more to be healthier. At first I took it as a bit of a joke, but over time, their comments became more frequent and intrusive. About a month later, my mother-in-law remarked that I looked as though Id put on weighteven though, truthfully, I hadnt gained a single pound. A few weeks on, I discovered I was pregnant and felt over the moon. I shared the news with Jack, but asked him not to tell my parents yet, as I wanted it to be a lovely surprise. Around then, Jack and I also moved into our new flat.
As my pregnancy progressed, Jacks family started visiting much more, constantly checking up on my health. I suspected Jack might have broken our secret, but he insisted they were only being caring towards their daughter-in-law and that nothing was odd about their concern. Nevertheless, as soon as the news was finally out, my life seemed to change completely.
My father-in-law started insisting I eat even more and pressured me to give up work in case I wore myself out. All the while, my mother-in-law seemed unable to keep her hands off my stomach, always going on about how it was growing. Before long, they were popping by several times a day, bombarding me with questions about how I felt. Gradually, it became clear that they saw me more as a vessel, merely looking after their grandchild, rather than a person with my own hopes and needs. Looking back, I realised theyd been trying to fatten me up ever since we met.
I confided in Jack about how all of this made me feel, but sadly, he didnt see things the same way at all. He dismissed my worries as groundless and silly. Feeling unsupported and alone, I decided to take matters into my own hands. That night, I packed up our things, asked Jack to change the locks just in case, and booked us a holiday. The very next morning, we left, hoping that some time away would bring me the peace and clarity I so desperately needed.
