At our anniversary party, my mother-in-law handed me an envelope. I thought it would be a sweet gesture, but inside was a shocking bill demanding money for raising my husband. What I did next left her stunned.
Laura, my mother-in-law, always acts like she knows best and isn’t shy about sharing her opinions. She has two sons, Edward and Michael, but Edward’s childhood was far from perfect. He told me she often yelled at them and made them feel unworthy.
When I met Edward, he was shy and insecure. I helped him grow confident. Before we married, he shared stories of his difficult upbringing.
After marriage, Laura remained difficult, but her anniversary surprise was beyond anything I expected.
We had a small party, and after guests left, Laura gave me an envelope “just for me.” It was a bill listing expenses for raising Edward, including “emotional support” worth $10,000. The total was $50,000.
I was shocked. Edward laughed, thinking it was a joke, but I wasn’t convinced.
That night, I made my own bill listing all the ways Laura had made my life harder—her criticisms, backhanded compliments, and therapy costs. My total matched hers: $50,000.
I sent it to her with a note: “Since you made me miserable, help cover the cost.”
Since then, Laura has been silent. When I saw her, she avoided eye contact. That was enough for me.
It wasn’t easy standing up to her, but I’m glad I did, especially for Edward.
What’s your take? Did I do the right thing?
