Six in 10 women admit to having a strained relationship with their mother-in-law, a study by Cambridge University found.
My mother-in-law Irene and I couldn’t be more different. She believes a woman should be a domestic goddess and ‘look after their man’, while I’m a feminist who thinks life’s just too short to scrub skirting boards and make Yorkshire puddings from scratch.
I love my mother-in-law. Without her I wouldn’t have my husband Brian, 51, or my two teenage boys, 17 and 13. She’s tough, bright and, at 80, still has more marbles than most people start with. But she also drives me insane. She talks incessantly, criticises me at every opportunity and is always right. The only time I remember us agreeing on anything is when we watched the film Monster-in-Law, starring Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez as warring daughter and mother-in-law. We both howled with laughter and admitted that things could be worse.
NO PRETENCE
From early on, I could tell she wasn’t my biggest fan. She didn’t like the fact that I’m career-orientated, which I find odd because she’s always worked herself. There were caustic remarks whenever she came round for supper and Marks & Spencer had taken the strain of making it. But I’m a terrible cook and often worked late. When Brian and I got engaged after eight years together, I expected her to at least pretend to be pleased. Instead, she asked to wear black to our wedding and told me she didn’t feel she was gaining a daughter, but losing her son. When I said I thought she’d got it the wrong way round, she told me, firmly, that she hadn’t. On our big day, she looked like she’d swallowed a wasp.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 18, 2024-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 18, 2024-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on cooked brealdfasts, divorce and cleaning
GOING SOLO
Claire Waite Brown, 52, hadn't travelled alone for over 30 years
The rise of DUCHESS SOPHIE
The Duchess of Edinburgh has transformed from PR girl into the Royal Family’s secret weapon’
EXPLORE THE SURREY HILLS
For great walks with spectacular views, this green oasis is a welcome retreat
THE TRUE COST OF ACID ATTACKS
After the number of chemical assaults making headlines this year, Woman’s Own investigates the devastating impact on victims
LOW-CAL FAKEAWAYS
Healthier fast-food favourites, all under 405 calories per serving
'CANCER WON'T RUIN MY WEDDING'
Just weeks before her big day, Charlotte Nash-Pye, 36, found a lump in her breast
HE WENT ON A NIGHT OUT, AND NEVER CAME BACK
Safina Powell will never know the truth about what happened to her son
I'M 64 AND I'VE NEVER HAD AN ORGASM
Despite being happily married for over 30 years, Carole Baker never truly enjoyed sex
'IT'S A NIGHTMARE'
Coleen Nolan on why stress is causing her to have a 'meltdown'