My husband’s mother abandoned him at the age of five, leaving him to fend for himself, rent places to stay, and herd buffalo to survive, so I cannot bring myself to love her.
In the past, when my husband’s eldest brother and his wife were financially stable, my mother-in-law, now 75, lived with them and helped take care of their children. However, after my brother-in-law’s business failed and he could no longer support her, she moved in with us. Now, we provide for her, covering her living expenses and medication costs, as she has no pension.
I take care of her out of obligation, but without any genuine affection. For instance, if she wants to eat something or buy an item, I’ll get it for her, but I absolutely refuse to give her money. I can’t forget how, when we were struggling financially, she often criticized me for being too frugal. During her younger and healthier years, she focused solely on my brother-in-law’s household and never cared about us—not even for a single day. Now, in her old age, we are the ones bearing full responsibility.
Am I being selfish? Does my treatment of my mother-in-law make me cruel?
Comments are closed.