She Took Their Son to Her Mother’s House, and He’s in No Rush to Bring Them Home

You know, its honestly a bit of a mess, and my mates sisters in tears about the whole thingkeeps saying its entirely her fault, though she didnt see any of this coming. Now shes absolutely stumped about how to fix it all without looking like a complete muppet, you know?

So, a few years back, my sister tied the knot. After the wedding, it was decided she and her new husband were going to move in with his mum. His family have this big flat in London three bedrooms and since hes their only son, his mum thought it only fair.

Ill keep one room for myself and you two can have the rest, his mum said. Were all decent people, Im sure well get on just fine. And her husband reassured her, If things dont work out, we can always get our own place to rent. Theres nothing wrong with giving this a go but if it gets sticky, well just move out.

Well, as you can imagine, it wasnt exactly a breeze. Turns out living with ones mother-in-law can be a right palaver. Both my sister-in-law and her husband’s mum tried, honestly, but somehow every tiny thing would spark a clash. Tensions just simmered until theyd end up having an argument more or less every day.

My sister would burst into tears sometimes. You said yourself, if we couldnt get on wed just move out! But her husband would just wave it off and say, Oh come on, its no big deal, not something to pack your bags over!

A year in, my sister went on maternity leave, and eventually they had their gorgeous baby boy. All this happened smack in the middle of her mother-in-law quitting her job, and with her being close to retirement, nobody was rushing to hire her. So now, youve got my sister-in-law and the mother-in-law cooped up together in that flat, all day, every day. No ones got their own space to escape to, and its making the whole atmosphere in the house thick enough to cut with a knife.

And as for her husband? Well, he just shrugged it all off being the only one working and bringing in the pounds at the time. Look, we cant just abandon my mum now; shes got no income, and I cant pay for both rent and her living costs. Once she finds herself a job, then well leave.

Only, my sister’s patience ran out long before her mother-in-law found work. One day, she packed up her things, bundled up her son, and moved back in with our mum in Brighton. Told her husband flat-out shed never set foot back in his mothers place again. If he wanted to keep the family together, hed have to actually do something about it.

She was convinced that hed come running, desperate to patch things up. But and heres the kicker she couldnt have been more wrong.

Its been something like three months now, and he hasnt so much as tried to bring her home. He just carries on living with his mum, does his 9-to-5, and then chats to his wife and son over Facetime in the evenings. At weekends, he might go visit them in Brighton, but thats about the sum of it.

Its like theyve got one of those living apart together marriages. Hes still getting all the tea and sympathy from both his mum and my sister, minus any of the hassle of childcare. His mum seems perfectly content, since she hasnt lost anything sons still around, and she hasnt had to make space for anyone new.

Meanwhile, my sisters left sitting there, regretting the whole thing. She’s absolutely miserable without him but she knows hes not exactly making an effort.

He just tells her, Well, you left, didnt you? You can always come back if you fancy.

But lets be honest, I dont reckon hes willing to leave his mum behind for some little rented place any time soon. And with my sister being on maternity leave, hows she meant to afford to start all over on her own, anyway?

Is this really the end of their family? Do you reckon shes got any hope of going back to her mother-in-laws and not looking like an absolute fool? I dont know but its a right pickle theyve all gotten themselves into.