An Ode To The Mother-In-Law I Was Supposed To Hate

More Stories like:

“I wanted to hate her because I thought I was supposed to.

Because the stigma society lays out is so big.

Because I wasn’t married when I got pregnant by her son, unexpectedly.

Because I was that rebel woman, struck down by a hard life, almost too independent and broken to be loved, but who her son so fiercely loved regardless.

Advertisement

Because someday, she would become my mother-in-law.

I wanted to hate her because everything about the way it should have gone didn’t go as planned.

I wanted to hate her because the whole mom thing failed with me growing up, so why would I want one now?

I wanted to hate her because I knew I would never make those crushed candy cane cookies as good as her, let alone because I’ll never be a baker.

Advertisement

I wanted to hate her because she gave me mammoth-sized shoes to fill and I thought I couldn’t fill them without stepping on her toes.

By the time we were ready to give birth, my desire to fill her shoes shifted to a desire to walk beside her.

And all those big scary stigmas the world shaped and told me all about faded away, and I could see her there for all she was, just like me – a mother.

A mother.

Advertisement

In all her relatable, vast, and humorous glory.

A mother you could never hate. Not even a smidge, a speck, or an ounce – not even a little.

Because she is the one who raised the man who helps me raise my own children.

A mother who just wants to love her big kid just as much as I love my little one.

Advertisement

A mother who loves regardless of where you’re going or where you come from.

A mother you can drink-double with, laugh with, and learn from.

A mother with the best cooking and honestly, the best cookies.

A mother-in-law; one who just wants to love her big kid, just as much as I love my little one.”

Advertisement
mother in law and daughter in law on wedding day posing by the water
Courtesy of Wall Flower Writing

This story was submitted to Love What Matters  by Wallflower Writing at Detroit Moms. You can follow her journey on Instagram and her website. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more stories like this here:

‘Are you excited your soon-to-be mother-in-law is staying for 2 weeks?’ Terrified, I accepted the invite. Was she putting on a show?’: Woman pens letter to mother in law after losing her to cancer

‘My mother-in-law wore a wedding dress to MY wedding. I didn’t think to ask what she planned to wear. It ended without anyone being shoved into the champagne fountain.’

Advertisement

‘My mother-in-law always joked about being our surrogate.’ Mother-in-law ‘blessed’ to serve as surrogate for ‘sweet baby boy’

‘I married my husband, and received the gift of a cheerleader. From day one, she scooped me up and loved me like her own.’: Woman thanks mother-in-law for ‘unconditional love’

Spread beauty and strength for others. SHARE this story on Facebook with family and friends.

Subscribe to our Living Better newsletter.

Your ultimate guide for actionable insights, evidence-backed advice, and captivating personal stories propelling you towards a more fulfilling life.

     Share  Tweet
    Logo

    Looks like your ad blocker is on.

    ×

    We rely on ads to keep creating quality content for you to enjoy for free.

    Please support our site by disabling your ad blocker.

    Continue without supporting us

    Choose your Ad Blocker

    • Adblock Plus
    • Adblock
    • Adguard
    • Ad Remover
    • Brave
    • Ghostery
    • uBlock Origin
    • uBlock
    • UltraBlock
    • Other
    1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock Plus icon
    2. Click the large blue toggle for this website
    3. Click refresh
    1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock icon
    2. Under "Pause on this site" click "Always"
    1. In the extension bar, click on the Adguard icon
    2. Click on the large green toggle for this website
    1. In the extension bar, click on the Ad Remover icon
    2. Click "Disable on This Website"
    1. In the extension bar, click on the orange lion icon
    2. Click the toggle on the top right, shifting from "Up" to "Down"
    1. In the extension bar, click on the Ghostery icon
    2. Click the "Anti-Tracking" shield so it says "Off"
    3. Click the "Ad-Blocking" stop sign so it says "Off"
    4. Refresh the page
    1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock Origin icon
    2. Click on the big, blue power button
    3. Refresh the page
    1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock icon
    2. Click on the big, blue power button
    3. Refresh the page
    1. In the extension bar, click on the UltraBlock icon
    2. Check the "Disable UltraBlock" checkbox
    1. Please disable your Ad Blocker
    2. Disable any DNS blocking tools such as AdGuardDNS or NextDNS

    If the prompt is still appearing, please disable any tools or services you are using that block internet ads (e.g. DNS Servers).