When my relationship with Emily became more serious, we moved in together into a flat her parents had given her. Imagine thatshe was only twenty-two and already had a place to call her own! I couldnt have dared dream of such a thing. After we got married, I assumed nothing about our lives would really change, but then my father-in-law came up with a brilliant ideawhy not stay at theirs for a while and let out Emilys flat? He reasoned we could quickly save a tidy sum for doing up the place properly.
Emily was all for itshes always found it cosy living with her parents, and theres never such a thing as too much money. I never quite understood why shed spent all those years hesitating before we met, tiptoeing around the idea of moving in together. She could easily have started saving up for the refurb much earlier if shed stayed with her folks before.
So there wasnt much to be donewe packed up and temporarily moved in with her parents, letting out our little nest for a surprisingly decent rent. Emily and I even set up another joint account, pooling our incomes, aiming to come back and get started on the renovation after three or four months. The extra cash was great, but it never quite made up for how awkward her parents could be. Sometimes, I really felt like they had us there just to keep me in check. My retired father-in-laws favourite hobby was sending me out to do the shopping on weekends, scolding me if I picked up the wrong brand, or practically forcing me to watch the boxing with himeven though thats exactly the sort of thing I cant stand. Its awful seeing someone get hit, but my father-in-law is convinced all “real men” should be able to handle themselves and relish a good scrap.
Her mum, on the other hand, seems forever at mercy of her moodsone day shes wiping a crumb from my cheek and showing me all the love in the world, the next shes shrieking about socks on the radiator because apparently, theres a perfectly good airing rack. Her rants could make a storm seem subtle, and the neighbours must hear every word.
Maybe all this is normal for some people, I dont know, but it simply wouldnt fly in my family.
At first, I thought about suggesting Emily and I go stay with my parents instead, but then wondered what if she ended up feeling just as out-of-place as I do here? That sparked a better plan. Im going to suggest Emily tells her parents Im about to start travelling for workthen Ill move back into my own flat for a bit. A fortnight of breathing space wouldnt hurt our marriage. Id spend two weeks on my own, one week enduring her parents together, and then back to my peace and quiet again. After that, well move back in together once the renovations are done, and hopefully things can return to normal. Because honestly, I cant take much more of this.
