My MIL says that I got pregnant just to marry her son. He’s rich and six years younger than me. Last week, she invited us to her 50th birthday. She looked at my 7-year-old son, then told all the guests, “Here is my DIL and her lottery ticket!”

My husband suddenly stood up and said, “Yes! And you will never be able to see them again!” He was quiet for the rest of the dinner. An hour later, we all heard my MIL scream. We left the dinner table and found her crying.

It turns out my husband had gone inside and removed all our photos from their frames, including his childhood pictures. He had also left her a note: “Don’t ever embarrass my family again!”

What was supposed to be a celebratory evening in honor of my MIL turned into one of her worst nightmares. Her beloved son had turned his back on her. The guests left early, and in the car, I could see my husband was seething.

I’m not going to lie—I’m happy that he defended me, and I feel like I “won.” But I also know this decision might hurt him in the long run. Do you think I should initiate a reconciliation, or are we better off without her in our lives?

Yours,
Emily

Dear Emily! Thank you for sharing your story with us. We’ve prepared some guidance to support you as you work through this delicate situation.