My mother-in-law came to our housewarming party and I asked her to leave!
Wed discussed the question of where to live well before our wedding. My parents resided in a very modest cottage. My mother-in-law lived alone in a three-bedroom flat. Renting a place was simply terribly expensive at the time.
We asked my mother-in-law if we might live with her for a while, and she said yes. We hadnt realised, though, quite what we were letting ourselves in for. On paper, according to the documents, the flat officially belonged to my husband. Yet, as I soon discovered, there was really only one person in charge: his mother.
Before he passed away, my husbands father transferred ownership to his son. Why did he do that? Knowing he was gravely ill, he wanted to be certain his son was provided for, as he feared his wife might one day remarry.
In truth, my husband never felt at home in that flat. I tried not to interfere in their matters, instead thinking about how we might one day afford a place of our own. Six years we lived under my mother-in-laws roof, pinching every penny, hoping we’d finally have a place to call ours.
Relations with my husbands mother were civil enough. We didnt quarrel; we shared the chores and split the bills evenly. Eventually, we even drew up a schedule for who could use the washing machine and when.
At long last, wed saved enough. We managed to scrape together enough for a two-bedroom flat, when, just as we began searching, I learned I was expecting. We hadnt planned on children so soon, but fate rarely asks permission. My husband suggested we take out a mortgage to buy a flat with three bedrooms. I agreed, and we bought it.
When it came time to celebrate, all our friends and family gathered for a proper housewarming the sort with laughter, music, and more food than anyone could eat. Of course, my mother-in-law attended as well. Everyone was merry, congratulating us on our new home. Then, quite out of the blue, my mother-in-law declared:
Im glad youve become owners of a three-bedroom flat! I put you up for years without charging a penny, so I do expect youll show a little gratitude. I hope my son will give up his share in my flat. If not for me, you’d never have saved enough for your own place.
I stood up, barely able to speak for the sting of her words, and asked her to leave. My husband was utterly taken aback. Why would she say such things in front of everyone? For all those years we split the grocery bills, shopping in turns, and always paid half of the utilities and other expenses.
We have no desire to keep up ties with someone so duplicitous. Thankfully, our guests chose to overlook the unpleasant scene, and the night carried on. Reflecting now, its remarkable how such events can change the course of relationships.
