I chalked it up to him being a good son, you know?As time went on, I started noticing little things. Like how he’d always check with his mom before making any big decisions. Or how he’d suddenly change his mind about our weekend plans after a phone call with her. We’d argue about it, and Jeff would always apologize, promising to do better. And I believed him every time. Despite all that, we built a life together and now have two amazing kids: Eva, our firecracker of a five-year-old, and Mike, our thoughtful eight-year-old boy.Jeff isn’t the best husband, but he’s the best father Eva and Mike could have asked for. He ensures he spends a few hours with them every day, asking them about their day at school and helping them with their homework. The best part is that he doesn’t let his parents dictate how we raise our kids. I consider that a small mercy, and I’m grateful to Jeff for drawing a boundary there.I can’t even imagine how difficult life would have been with his meddling mother telling me how to look after my kids. It would’ve been a nightmare! Jeff’s parents, Rachel and Peter, live about three hours away. They visit us about twice a month, and the kids adore them. My heart swells with joy whenever I see my little ones having a great time with their father and grandparents.I guess that’s because my mom was a single parent, and I never got a chance to enjoy my life like this. But that’s a story for another time. Anyway, what has always bothered me is that Jeff lets his mother interfere in our married life. I mean, Rachel’s always poking her nose where it doesn’t belong, asking personal questions that make me squirm.And you know what’s the worst part? Jeff sides with her whenever I bring it up. Every. Single. Time. I always knew this would ruin our relationship someday. I just didn’t expect it to happen like this.It happened on a Saturday afternoon. Jeff’s parents had come over for our monthly family lunch. I had spent the morning cooking their favorite pot roast, mashed potatoes, and green beans. By the end of the lunch, Rachel and Peter were raving about the food, and Jeff kept asking if I made more.
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