The Story of How My Mother-in-Law Lost Her Flat
I cant see any reason why we should be responsible for supporting my brother-in-law and his family by renting them a place to live. To set the record straight, Im the owner of our three-bedroom flat, which was in a dreadful state when I bought it, long before I got married. Just to give you a picture: the front door was simply leaning against the frame. But the price was right, and I worked on fixing it up bit by bit. Thats not really the main point of this entry, though.
By the time I met my wife, Id already renovated two of the rooms and even bought a few bits of furniture. All in all, the flat was becoming quite comfortable.
My wifewhos English through and throughwas charming, full of life, and living in a rented flat at the time. Only a few months after we met, she moved in with me. After we got married, we turned one of the rooms into a proper nursery, and we welcomed our son, then our daughter in the years that followed.
Everything was ticking along splendidly, until one brisk, rainy autumn evening when the peace in our household was shattered by my mother-in-law turning up unannounced with two bulging suitcases and tears streaming down her face.
“Could I stay with you for a bit? My sons brought a woman into my flat. I do hope things work out for them, and maybe shell become his wife and settle down with him. I wont be here long, I promise! Ill help collect the children from school and nursery and do a bit of cooking. I havent got anyone but you!”
She sobbed, so of course we let her stay. We gave her our largest bedroom. My wifes mother had long since retired and, as promised, helped out a lotshe’d pick up the children and fussed over them. Yet, she hardly returned to her own flat. Her younger son was busy making a life for himself in her place. He lived therea tiny one-bedroom council flatcrammed in with his new partner and two children: one theirs together, and one from her previous relationship.
Years back, my brother-in-law had hurried into marriage straight after sixth formmarried a girl from schoolafter which my wifes parents sold their house, used the proceeds to buy themselves a studio flat and a two-bedroom place for their son. Unfortunately, my father-in-law fell ill and passed away not long after.
My brother-in-law and his now ex-wife raised two children, but then their marriage crumbled. He left his flat to his first family, and now his ex-wife lives there with her new husband and three kids.
After the divorce, my brother-in-law moved back in with his mother, telling her, “Mum, Ill stay with you while I sort myself out. Im single now, dreaming up all sorts! Ill get my act together and find my own place.” But that never quite happened. A few months later hed moved a new woman in.
Come weekends, my mother-in-law would ferry all the childrenhis first two, and the children from his new partnerover to our place. It was utter chaos.
About a year later, my wife and I sat down with her mother and told her it was high time she sorted out her living situation. She promptly burst into tears and started shouting and making a scene.
So, I ended up having a tough chat with my brother-in-law and told him he needed to vacate his mothers flat. He refused point blanksaid he had kids, earned very little, and couldnt possibly afford to rent.
What am I supposed to do with all this?
Lately, things between me and my mother-in-law have soured terribly. To be honest, I cant stand coming home after work anymore. I decided to have a serious word with my wife, telling her she needed to help her mum sort herself out or else Id simply have to file for divorceI was at the end of my tether.
My words stunned my wifeshe had no idea where her mother could go, but she couldnt just turfed her out onto the street.
I pressed the idea that her mother should just rent a studio flat; thankfully, we had enough money set aside for that. Yet, my mother-in-law flatly refused, insisting instead that we should rent a two-bedroom place for my brother-in-law and his family so she could finally move back into her own home.
I took that as sheer cheek, and told her that unless she found somewhere to stay within the week, Id pack all her things and leave them outside the door. What else could I do?
Frankly, I dont think we owe it to my brother-in-laws family to look after them, let alone provide them a roof over their heads!
If theres anything Ive taken from this ordeal, its that sometimes, for the sake of peace at home, you have to draw a clear lineeven when family is involved.
