Beth and I have been married for three years now. Shes got a younger sister, and back when we were just dating, my future wife used to grumble, only half-joking, that her younger sister was undeniably the family favourite. Even though both of them are grown women now, Beths parents still seem to treat them as if one of them were made of gold and the other of plain old tin.
On our wedding day, my mother-in-law presented us with an iron. Yes, a brand-new iron. Its a decent brand, and Im not in the habit of grumbling about gifts, but even my mateswho arent exactly rolling in itmanaged to give us a tidy little envelope with some cash inside. But Beths mum, whos comfortably well-off and owns three flats in London, apparently couldnt spare more than the price of a small appliance.
Beth and I were living in a rented flat at the time, and Id already taken out a mortgage, so every penny counted. Now, I might have just let it slide as an oh well, its the thought that counts sort of thing. Except that, a year later, when Beths sister tied the knot, her mum gifted her one of those three London flats. I mean, reallyBeth gets an iron, and her sister gets her very own place in a modern building? Even I felt utterly slightedand I wasnt the one whod been handed a small household appliance as a congratulations while my sibling got a set of keys. I honestly cant imagine how Beth mustve felt.
Things only got stickier when, a while later, my mother-in-law announced that she wanted to move in with us. Apparently, her own flat was being renovated, the second was being rented out, and the third, well, that was now her youngest daughter’s palace. The best idea she could come up with was to squeeze herself in with us, especially since our place was conveniently near her work.
When she sat us down to discuss her grand plan for new living arrangements, I couldnt help myselfI finally told her exactly what I thought about the, shall we say, creative way she divvies up her affections and property between daughters. She was deeply offended, but, to my relief, Beth backed me up. I do feel a bit guilty for being rather blunt with the mother of the woman I adore, but honestly, I couldnt share a roof with herIm still too cheesed off. Not so much over the gift itself, but over her attitude towards my wife.
