Against his wife’s wishes, he invited his mother into the house to see the newborn granddaughter.
My mother is a nightmare when it comes to communication. She never respects anyone’s boundaries. She never liked my wife, not for any particular reason, but simply because I had married her and she could not bear seeing me pull away.
Three weeks ago my wife, Emma, gave birth to a little girl.
My mother insisted on being in the delivery suite, but Emma wanted me alone there. So while Emma was in labor, my mother sat in the hospital lobby, shouting down the whole floor that she deserved to witness the birth of her grandchild.
Whenever my mother crossed the threshold of our home, she clung to everything and condemned Emma for being a bad housewife. She also claimed Emma would be a terrible mother.
After those remarks Emma lost her temper and gave me an ultimatum: my mothers foot would never tread on our floor again. I understood her. No one likes to be humbled in his own home.
When we finally brought the baby back, the grandparents wanted to meet her.
Emma said my motherinlaw could visit once, but only if she kept quiet. My mother promised not to break the request, yet the moment she crossed the doorway a hail of comments fell:
Its filthy in here. If you want to live like this, live like it. But out of respect for me you could at least tidy up.
Emma snapped again, telling her she had no right to visit and that the infant could be seen only if we allowed it.
Almost two weeks passed; the inlaws and my father had all met the baby. Yet my mother still did not show up, and Emma refused to see her. We kept the baby indoors because the world outside felt too bleak.
The day before yesterday Emma had a doctor’s appointment, and I was left at home with the child. I took the chance to invite my mother to see the baby. She arrived, and I warned her we only had two hours before Emma returned. She refused to leave, no matter how hard I tried to persuade her.
Emma came home to find my mother cradling the baby. The sight sent her into a complete nervous breakdownshe screamed at both of us, demanding my mother leave the house.
In my mind I told Emma to shut up and calm down, reminding her that this was my house and my baby, and if I wanted my mother to see the child she could not forbid it, let alone throw her out.
Emma pushed my mother and me out of the house. She refuses to speak to either of us. I now live with my parents. I hope Emma will settle down soon.
