The relationship with a mother-in-law can develop in a completely unpredictable way, where almost no one can say whether you will get along with this woman or not. Perhaps every daughter-in-law has a couple of stories about her husband’s mother, and reading them is sometimes more exciting than a novel.

• 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.
• My mother-in-law told my daughter that I was an evil witch who bewitched her daddy. And she will give Daddy money so that they could get away from me to another city. Thankfully, my daughter told me about it right away. My husband took the money from his mom, and then the three of us got away from this magical woman. We have been living in another city for a month now.
• My husband bought a plot of land, we foolishly allowed my in-laws to plant beds there along with our beds. As a result, 3 years in a row, under various pretexts, they spoiled my beds. I gave up this vegetable garden and left it to them. They sincerely don’t understand why I did this, although I repeatedly explained.
• My mother-in-law used to come early on Saturday. I got up 2-3 times, made breakfast, and entertained her. But once I just woke up her son and made him entertain his mom in the morning. He immediately forbade her to come on weekends. She began to arrange meetings in advance. As for the rest, she is a normal mother-in-law.
• So, for the past couple of weeks, my mother-in-law has been saying she’s gonna cut my son’s hair. I clarified that she is not going to cut my son’s hair because I have a specific haircut and that’s what he wants. My son is 3 years old, and me and my husband both agree that we enjoy his haircut. When my son just came back on Sunday night after staying there for a couple of days, he had a buzz cut. I am extremely upset.