It was already evening. My son-in-law had brought his mother-in-law home. He placed two of her bags on the hallway floor while she went to see Sarah.

Evening has settled in. My son-in-law has just brought my mother-in-law home. He sets two of her bags down on the hallway floor, then heads off to see Emily. When she catches sight of her mother, Emily is instantly overwhelmed by disappointment. So now Im expected to care for you for the rest of my life? Youre not planning to go back to your village at some point, are you?

Not so long ago, I heard about an old friend of mine who had a rather unpleasant attitude towards her elderly mothers situation. Thankfully, everything turned out well in the endher mother-in-law was looked after by the son-in-law, who arranged for her to stay at a good, well-paid nursing home. But at that time, Emily had absolutely no idea what had happened, only learning about it once her mother had come out of the clinic.

Emilys husband had brought her mother back to their place, and said to his wife, Your mother is healthy now, Ive bought her everything she needs, but shell need a bit of extra support for a while. So, shell be staying with us for the time being. You dont mind, do you?

Really, it wouldve made more sense for Emily to be the one asking her husband that question. After all, its her own mother. Still, instead of showing any gratitude to her husband for caring for her mum, Emily made a strange and frankly baffling scene: Mum, Ive only just moved to London, Im trying to sort my life out, and now you turn up! You want to live in the same house as me here! Am I supposed to look after you forever now? Youre not even thinking of going back to your village eventually?

Naturally, her pensioner mother was distressed after hearing those words from her daughter, but Emilys husband was the most taken aback of all.

At last, his wife was showing her true colours, revealing a side of herself hed never seen before their marriage. Distressed, the mother-in-law began packing her things to go back home, and Emily herself stormed off in a huff to her friends place, slamming the door behind her. When Emily returned home late at night, she found her suitcases packed and a train ticket waiting for her. Not understanding what was going on, she turned to her husband and asked:

Why, hasnt Mum left yet? Or are you going somewhere?
No, those are your things, and your ticket. Perhaps we should live apart for a while. Ive wanted to have children for a long time, but today I realised I could never bring myself to have a child with someone who would treat their own mother this way. Think about what youre doing. Go and stay in your mothers village for a whileshell stay here with me. If you come to your senses, come back, her husband told her. Emily had never imagined that her husband would make such a decision.