Kevin and Susan had been married for years. They brought up their children together and seemed like a happy couple.
Back when they were students, they decided to get married and start an independent life. The guys rented an apartment, but when their firstborn was born, they realized that they could not pull it off. Kevin changed jobs, but there was still not enough money.
The parents decided to help the young family solve the apartment problem. If the in-laws could not help financially, Susan’s mother took matters into her own hands. She sold her parents’ apartment and gave the money to her children to take out a mortgage.
And now Kevin and Susan are already the owners of their own square footage. There was also enough money for repairs and furniture. My mother-in-law retired at this time and moved to live at the dacha. My son-in-law helped my mother-in-law on the dacha in every possible way. He was afraid to refuse, for he felt indebted.
The in-laws offered their help to Barbara (Susan’s mother) so that she would not bother her son-in-law and would not pull him. However she did not even think of agreeing, she did not want to see the matchmakers on her territory. Kevin’s parents were offended and said that they would no longer communicate with their relative, except on holidays.
Even after the appearance of the third child, his mother-in-law was actively involved in the life of young people and asked to do this and that. “Asked” is an understatement, she began to demand.
– How dare you complain? I bought you an apartment, you should be grateful to me for the rest of your life, not show your teeth,” said Susan’s mother .
Susan decided to talk to her mother herself:
– Mom, of course we are grateful to you for your help, but it was solely your initiative. Stop reproaching us, huh? My husband’s parents took care of our grandchildren, but they don’t remember that. Kevin is always ready to help you by putting things aside, but you have to know the limits.
However, the relative did not draw any conclusions. She kept telling her son-in-law that he owed him a favor. She told him in an orderly tone when to come to the dacha and what to do there. You see, he took the money for the apartment right away, but he is not eager to help.
That’s when Kevin ran out of patience:
– I do not see my children with your dacha. I can’t tear myself away. Stop demanding from me – you yourself gave money for housing, no one forced you. I have already thanked you a million times, and I have never refused to help you. If I had known that you would reproach me for the rest of my life with the apartment, I would never have taken the money out of your hands.
As the years passed, Barbara wouldn’t let up. She called Kevin’s parents and accused them of raising their son to be a slacker and lazy. The son-in-law took a loan from the bank, gave his mother-in-law every penny and breathed out. He was finally free from her bondage.
What would you have done in his place?
