The relationship with a mother-in-law can develop in an unpredictable way, where almost nobody can say whether you will get along with this woman or not.

II’m sure that every daughter-in-law has a couple of stories about her husband’s mother, and reading them is sometimes more exciting than a novel.

Story 1

My mother-in-law is a very capricious woman: she lives in a 4-bedroom apartment and always complains that she is tired of cleaning. But when we suggest

she sell the place and buy something smaller, she starts to get hysterical. She doesn’t want to hire a cleaner either. “I don’t know this person!” And she wants me to clean her place because I’m not a stranger.

My husband also began to pressure me, saying that I work remotely, and have a lot of free time, so I can help his mommy. I suggested my husband clean her place himself – he took offense, and my mother-in-law began to shout,

“How dare you suggest this to my son!” We lived normally before, she cleaned somehow, a robot vacuum cleaner helped, and now she wants a servant – me. © Overheard at girls / VK

My mother-in-law’s birthday is a day earlier than mine. In the first year of marriage, my husband gave me a cool laptop for my birthday, and my mother got a 2-week trip to the Maldives, we were both delighted.

The second year, my husband had an accident – he fell and had to spend the lion’s share of his savings on a dentist.

That year my mother-in-law got a trip to the Maldives again, but I only got a bouquet. He promised to give me a normal gift within a couple of months, so I was happy. But a month later, my husband brought me a treadmill.

I told him that cardio exercise, especially running, was not my thing. My husband shrugged and started using the treadmill himself. Of course, we got into an argument. My hubby complained to my mother-in-law about me – and said I didn’t know how to be grateful.

But his mother got all the details of the quarrel out of him and drew the right conclusions. She came to visit us and expressed to her son that he should have originally switched gifts. After giving him a lecture, she left and my husband and I were left

staring at each other dumbfounded. Then he admitted he was wrong and the conflict was over. And I am still in a pleasant shock from the position of my mother-in-law. © Overheard from girls / VK

Story 3

When I was 7 months pregnant, I found out that my husband had an affair. I got so upset that ended up in hospital, and my husband packed his things and left for his mistress. So I am on IV, crying. And then my

mother-in-law comes into the ward. She sits on the edge of the bed and says, “Lena, I never liked you, so our relationship is not good. But I think what my son did is disgusting. I’m sorry I didn’t raise him well. We may not be friends, but you’re carrying my

grandchild under your heart, and I’m here for you.” There were no particular sentiments: she brought me a nightie, slippers, a cup, home-cooked food,

then met me when I was discharged. It was my mother-in-law who picked up my daughter and me from the maternity hospital (my parents are no longer alive).

I live with my baby at her place – I can’t afford to rent a flat like I used to. My mother-in-law helps me a lot with my daughter, and I am truly grateful to her for everything.