The first time after the wedding we lived with my mother-in-law. My husband’s younger brother also lived there. Six months later my brother brought a potential wife into the house as well. My mother-in-law treated me well, we had no conflicts. She, of course, gave me advice, taught me how to cut cabbage and cook borscht, but I kept silent.
One day my husband and I were drinking tea, and my mother-in-law came into the kitchen. She took out her pocket grease and put it on the table. Say, diversify your personal life. My husband and I dumbfounded. Then my patience snapped, and I began to insist on moving out.
When we moved out, my husband’s mother played hurtful. We purposely moved to the other side of town, so we rarely crossed paths with her. She found herself another victim, my new daughter-in-law Maria. She listened to her and endured all her master classes. Naturally, the mother-in-law drove her to the point where her youngest son wanted to move out as well.
And then some time later my mother-in-law came to us with a friendly visit. I sensed some kind of a catch – no mistake. She had dinner with us, chatted, and at parting glanced at my feet and said:
– What size are you? I want to knit socks.
I answered her question without further thought, but I should have kept silent. After a couple of days everything fell into place.
Maria sent me a picture of the gift my mother-in-law had prepared for me. They were worn sneakers from a second-hand store. My in-laws had put fur insoles in them to make them more seasonal.
How am I supposed to accept this gift? How do I not ruin the holiday? I don’t understand her motives. If there is no money, knit socks, buy candy or a card. Naturally, I’m not going to wear them.
How would you react to such a gift?
