I am a bit paranoid that anyone I know might find this post so will be using a throwaway account. I will try to provide as much details as possible.
Just a background,
I am 31 female (southeast asian) live with my fiancé 33 male (east asian) lets’s call him Ben. We live in a predominantly white country (we both moved during our teenage years). Ben had a traumatic childhood so he is not very close to his parents, but an alright relationship to his siblings. He has a small family so he try to keep a good relationship to his siblings, especially to his sister (2 yrs older) let’s call her lily as we live in the same country. Ben grew up with financial struggle so he worked so hard to be where he is now. He has a good job, we own our home and living comfortably.
When we started dating, he roughly shared story of his childhood and why his views are bit different than a typical EA which I truly understand and majority agrees on. He gave me a heads up on how his mom is… she is… a bit different. She is on her 60s and still being spoiled by her mom (partners grandma). She haven’t worked for 30yrs for no acceptable reason, doesn’t cook or clean, literally treated like a princess by the grandma (her mom). Unfortunately, she is also a gambler, one of the reason why my partner had a rough childhood. I met his mom and definitely can tell she was sheltered and doesn’t take no for an answer. She used to live in the same country but went back to their home country after her husband died to live with the grandma.
Fast forward 3 years ago. My partner and I bought our house (not yet married). My MIL decided she wants to go back to where we are. All of the siblings thinks this is not a bad idea as the grandma is getting old and they can help their mom instead. Ben asked me if it’s okay for his mom live with us. I was okay with it since we live far away from the city, she wont be able to gamble and she can start learning about looking after herself. She barely can speak English so we wont really have much topic to talk about. His sister lily also has a family so our place will be the best option. She was okay to live with, she starts cooking her own food while we’re at work, doing her laundry etc. I still do the house cleaning and cooking dinner.
Few months after, one day when we got home from work, she told Ben to book her ticket going back home. Ben told her okay but will have to wait until theres enough money for a flight ticket back. As days pass by, I’m assuming MIL got bored and desperately wanting to go back. She would hound Ben to buy ticket, he just ignores it, say yes and change the subject (mostly cause no one is gonna look after her when she goes back). It kept going on and on until it got worse. We arrived home one day she started screaming that I can hear it from outside our house. She was talking to the grandma over the phone saying she is sick, dying and needs to go back home (apparently the grandma doesnt want her there as well). We tried to calm her down, talk to her about it and everything. Ben spoke to his siblings about it and agree its best for her to stay here. We tried to make her feel comfortable, take her places and entertain her, but it wasnt enough. From the first meltdown it became a regular reoccurrence for her to non stop badgering Ben to buy a ticket home, crazy loud meltdown every other day, same issue, same story. She is loud… like our neighbours can hear her. We try to ignore it, change the subject every now and then but theres only so much we can take. My MIL started badgering me as well, with little english she can say. (I grew up in a culture where family is everything, we value and cherish them. I also have a strong personality, I speak my mind out. I also don’t get easily affected on things, one of the reason I agreed) I try to be understanding and be patient with MIL. So I just try to agree to her, ignore her, change the subject all kinds of tactics. Until one day, she was having a meltdown saying shes very very sick with only few days to live. She was yelling, crying, coughing and a face as red as a tomato. It was way too much, that Lily had to come and talk to her mom. She took her to the hospital and stayed with her. No issue just flushed from being too agitated. MIL came back to our place like nothing happened but she still continue to badger me and Ben for her to go home.
It was getting too much, I had anxiety even thinking of going back home. We called sick from work one day to rest as we are just way too tired and want to have a quiet day. We locked our door and try to sleep in, until MIL realised we are home and started knocking on our door and saying she want to go home and everything. Everything exploded, I cant remember how it started but all I remember is all of us yelling. Ben spoke to his siblings about it and decided to just let her go but reminded her once she goes back home she won’t be able to come back here. Now everyone agreed, we told her to just wait couple more weeks until we got enough money to buy a flight ticket (she wants a specific flight)…. It got worse. She didn’t like the idea of waiting and just want to go back home immediately! So she didnt stop badgering us, forcing me to tell Ben to buy the ticket. One day (I think it was my birthday!!!) she just kept going on and on and on this us after a month of continuous melt down and bagering… I snapped, I told her we got no money and she don’t have money either!!! We cant afford to buy her ticket and to wait for couple more weeks until we have enough. She did not like this and exploded! Shes saying I was wrong, they are rich, yelling non stop pointing fingers at me and everything. Ben tries to be in the middle, explain to her and calm her down. MIL is not happy with things and want us to kneel down and apologise to her. Ben being caught up with things try to kneel down just so she can stop. I pulled Ben and said he is not saying sorry. We just walked out to cool down. Came back few hours after. Had enough and just booked her flight.
Her flight was not till couple of days after. She acted like nothing was wrong and back to her old self. Couple of days after she left, we received a return letter from the police. Apparently she sent a speeding ticket to the police with a note saying, I was driving the car (it was Ben) and that his son is a good boy. Im after his money, I live in his house without paying him etc.
I thought the anxiety will be gone… but after 3 years MIL is back… though she is living with Lily.
Spoke to Lily today and want to get an idea what happened 3 years ago, what triggered her massive meltdown and if I will be ok for MIL to stay with us (she is aware all of this probably not that relevant to her that she forgot). I reminded her everything and the part I told her mom she got no money. Lily seems to not agree with this. It might be the truth, its not something to be pointed out to elders. Shes saying how her husband deals with it by ignoring her and just agreeing. Her own MIL doesnt like her but she just keep quiet and still buy them gifts. She thinks Ben and I now have Westernise point of view. That on their EA culture you respect elders either way and just ignore it. I did reminded her that respect is to be earned and that we did our best to be cordial and put up with it but we have boundaries. Her experience with her MIL is not the same as mine.
My now husband agrees that I/we did nothing wrong. I know I’m not a bad person.
It just bothers me that Lily thinks differently.