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There Can Only Be One First Lady
by Ava
Updated: July 23, 2020
Originally Published: July 27, 2012
As much as I strive to be the patient, understanding, and all-around fabulous daughter-in-law, I must confess that my limits do exist. If my mother-in-law, for instance, decided to publicly vie for the title of “First Lady” in my husband’s heart, I might just transform into a slightly unhinged, jealous woman, fiercely defending my claim. Surely, you think, such a scenario sounds absurd! Yet, in the wild world of mother and daughter-in-law dynamics, this kind of drama seems to pop up regularly.
So, here’s how it unfolded: It was a seemingly ordinary day, and as we were walking back to our car, my husband casually asked, “Do you have the car keys, darling?” Before I could even process the question, SHE chimed in, “Are you talking to me?” An awkward silence followed until I pointed out what I assumed was glaringly obvious: “I think he’s addressing me, mom.”
Well, apparently that wasn’t as clear as I believed, because her response left me speechless, “Well, darling refers to me, clearly.” Now, I’m not one to be rendered mute easily (considering my reputation for having a near-constant stream of chatter), but this one truly threw me off.
If that didn’t take the wind out of my sails, my charming husband decided to break the tense atmosphere with the most ridiculous statement ever: “No fighting, ladies – you’re BOTH the loves of my life.” Hmmm… Not quite the diplomatic response I was hoping for. You might think this was a valiant attempt to diffuse a potentially explosive situation, but I should mention I was six months pregnant at the time, which is akin to a highly emotional elephant on the edge of a breakdown. My grip on sanity had long since slipped, and my only solace came from chocolate, which I consumed as a mood stabilizer.
Needless to say, I was NOT in the mood for my husband to start comparing relationships with his mother and me!
Over time, I’ve learned that arguing with my mother-in-law is like trying to outfight Chuck Norris – it just doesn’t happen. There’s no way to win against this woman. Even if my pregnancy-addled brain could muster a clever comeback, she would simply glide right over it.
So, what did I do? I turned my indignation on my hapless husband, who thought he was being clever with his comeback. Poor guy! He forgot that his wife was essentially a walking ball of hormones. I’m happy to report he’s learned his lesson and will think twice before equating me with ANYONE else ever again.
Lessons Learned
To wrap up, let’s draw some moral lessons from this little tale:
- Husbands, since you now live with your partner and not your mother, be cautious when navigating tricky situations. Your mother has limited power to make your life miserable, whereas your wife has unlimited influence. Remember: a happy wife = a happy life.
- Mothers-in-law: we get it; someone has taken your top spot in your son’s life. But we do give you grandchildren to ease your pain – that has to count for something, right?
- Daughters-in-law and wives: as tough as it may be, this is a package deal. You’ve got the man of your dreams, so embrace it and be thankful you’re not still dating that guy whose idea of a romantic evening involved a football game and a cooler of beer. (Note: if you’re pregnant, none of this applies. Feel free to write your own rules as needed).
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Summary
This humorous account delves into the challenges of navigating relationships with in-laws, particularly when it involves a pregnant daughter-in-law vying for attention. It highlights the absurdity of family dynamics while offering playful advice on how to handle such situations.