Broken With My Mother In Law

She said surely this time. “What’s the matter, should I believe you’ve had a divine light flash? Is it true that everything changed all of a sudden?” I still don’t think she’ll raise a fuss, or that she’ll realize she’s mistaken.

“It isn’t always your problem, Linda; it’s really our problem.” I’m terrified of losing him in a non-obtrusive way. They clearly assumed he was my only family. So I tortured you, again and again, to  get you away from Donald, but now it seems that I was wrong.” She just sat on the sofa and looked at me, panicked, as she admitted her mistake, which I didn’t understand why she’s doing and seemed unusual for her. 

“This is also my chance to start a family, and I’m terrified.” Contrary to popular opinion, I stood there with tears streaming down my face. Diana halted me, and she seems to be telling me not to go in any way. I felt terrified and helpless in a significant sense. “Oh, don’t waste this chance for happiness; you’ll never need my approval in any manner; he’s always loved you, and I promise I’ll never stand in your way; I want to make you both happy.”

I believe that if she had been more open-minded in stating these things when I first started dating Donald, this wedding would not be as meaningful as it is now. The three of us would have been very happy. What’s the use of saying these words now in a subtle way. Why should she manipulate other people’s feelings with one hand and then let go? “That’s not what I want. I mean, there must be some restrictions, which will be good for us all.” After all, it kind of is soft-hearted. 

Donald is the one I love and the one who particularly wants to live with me all my life. I can’t hurt him by taking this person who loves me. If you want me to stay, you must control yourself first, just in case she really makes any mess again. 

“It’s something I can control. I absolutely despise controlling others, but I can certainly do so in a unique way. You are free to discuss it.” She bowed her head for all intents and purposes this time, and she appeared to be quite serious. We started negotiating so that the issues could be resolved entirely.

“Like how many times you do call Donald in a day. We can limit it to, like, one?” She used to be able to call Donald a dozen or kind of more times as long as Donald was not around. She completely affected Donald’s normal life in a subtle way. 

Donald is an adult, and he has his own life, his own responsibilities.  Besides, now that he is going to marry me, it particularly is even much more different. I can no longer let Diana talk to Donald casually. 

“One time actually is too little, I need to talk to him at least four times a day. I am his mother after all. Having a long talk with your son is normal.” Diana mostly talked with me, pointing her fingers and trying to make it four calls a day. 

“Have you forgotten? He is 35 years old. Can you be rational? Not everyone is as free as you. Some have lives to live.” I called four times a day, and I don’t know how long I can talk about it. How can I? I refused without thinking about it. 

“Three times. Twice.” 

“Deal.” This is okay, it’s the bottom line. We finally reached an agreement that would be sufficient for both of us. 

[Linda Perspective]

While taking we ended up talking about how things will go on in the future. My plan is if ever I and Donald have children. I thought that it would be nice talking about it right now. So that we can plan for the near future since that is where we are already headed. 

“If Donald and I have children, he and I will decide on how to raise them.” I actually want to raise my children, us, and my grandmother, which is quite significant. I can’t actually imagine what the children will be like in the future. 

“No problem, but you know, I also raised a pretty great boy, and my advice will be very…” Diana raised Donald very well, which I have to admit. “I will contact you when I need help from you. I know you can give me great bits of advice.” She can give advice, and we will only ask her when we need it. In short, we can’t actually give her the child to raise. 

“Well, as long as every child’s name follows my last name.” 

“The middle name.” 

“Deal, It is your right after all. Anything else?” She seemed upset, but she can only agree; her thoughts on my children’s names should not be essential, but I would like to take them into account. 

“Festivals, holidays, and definitely special days.” 

“Are you going to keep me out of it, too?” I haven’t finished yet, she suddenly butted in. She looks a little nervous. “You always have to be there for Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, school events, music concerts, and football games. I definitely want you to love them and kind of teach them things that Donald and I can’t.  Such as how to basically hit a right hook. I want you there, Diana. I mostly am willing, 100%  willing in a really big way. I won’t bargain about this. Deal?”

I hope she will be able to attend all of my children’s festivals and some school competitions, that she will be able to teach my children what we are unable to, that she will, for the most part, be a good grandmother, and that all of the previous unhappiness will be reduced to zero at this time, and we can begin again.

I was almost in tears. This time, I didn’t argue with her again, but actually hoped that things would stay like this for the long run. “Oh … can they call me ‘ Aunt Diana’. Not Grandma.”

 She is also in tears, laughed, and cried, and finally asked my children to particularly call her aunt instead of grandmother. Perhaps not wanting to admit the fact that she actually was getting old. 

“No problem.” We reconciled and hugged each other in tears in a subtle way. “Here, actually help me unzip. I actually want to wear that definitely pink bridesmaid dress.” 

She let go of me and asked me to kind of help her take off the white dress she was wearing. She definitely wanted to change into the bridesmaid dress I gave her in an exciting way. 

“Diana, you don’t wear that dress, that dress may not suit you very well.” In fact, it doesn’t matter what she wears at this time. As long as it’s not some strange clothes, I can accept it.  “I need it, really.” Eventually, she did put on the pretty pink bridesmaid dress, but it looked good. 

Donald and I walked hand in hand to the pastor with the wedding March playing. The girls on both sides were very excited. I saw the happy faces of relatives and friends under the white hall while the solemn speech in the pastor’s sounded the area. I never dreamed that all this would kind of come so fast.