My mother-in-law decided to move into our flat and give hers to her daughter.
My husband grew up in a large family. His mother continued having children until she had a daughter. An unusual strategy, but not mine to judge.
When I got married, I thought I was lucky. Edward seemed responsible, brave, and strong. He understood family, but he couldn’t distance himself from his mother and sister. While his mother didn’t worry much about her sons, her daughter’s welfare was always the top priority.
When I first met Lucy, she was ten years old. At first, she didn’t bother me, but after five years, things got worse. She didn’t want to study, had questionable friends, and my husband had to help raise her. My mother-in-law would call in the middle of the night asking for his help.
I hoped Lucy would grow up, get married, and everything would be fine. That didn’t happen! When she found a boyfriend, my mother-in-law insisted that her sons chip in for the wedding because she didn’t have the money. Lucy’s fiancé didn’t come from a wealthy background, so the newlyweds had to live with my mother-in-law.
However, she realized they couldn’t get along and found it hard living together. She thought of the perfect solution—she would move in with us and give Lucy her flat. Never mind that I bought our property with my hard-earned money, and my husband hadn’t contributed a penny. The ironic thing is, he’s also pleased with the arrangement, claiming it would relieve us of responsibilities to have his mother around.
We have a three-bedroom flat, but I don’t want to sacrifice comfort by sharing our living space. My mother-in-law is convinced we’re obligated to provide her shelter because my husband is the eldest son, responsible for looking after his parents.
I love my husband and am not considering divorce. But how should I talk to him? How can I explain that living with his mother is a nightmare? Any advice?
