Honora Amoura6 months agoOver the years, my in-laws have caused me significant stress. I lived with them for a year and witnessed toxic dynamics: my father-in-law insults my mother-in-law publicly, my sister-in-law (36) behaves selfishly as the favorite child, and my mother-in-law tries to control others but remains passive. SIL’s behavior has been especially hurtful—she’s dismissive and rude, even skipping our wedding and yelling in front of us because she didn’t want to attend. This devastated my husband. My MIL defended her by saying that if SIL isn’t happy, she keeps her distance from the family. Despite these issues, I believed my in-laws loved me for the first six years of my marriage—until one incident changed everything. Repeated arguments with my husband strained our relationship, and I started therapy, but my anger and frustration transformed me into someone I didn’t recognize. Although my husband is loving and supportive, he often defended his family during our conflicts, which only made things worse. Tragically, I suffered two miscarriages (three babies in total) within six months, partly due to stress and high TSH levels. Then, SIL announced her pregnancy shortly after, seemingly indifferent to the sadness we were experiencing, which deepened our grief. During a particularly tough time, I confided in my in-laws about wanting a divorce. They immediately contacted my husband and blamed me for everything, accusing me of treating him poorly for a long time. This shocked and hurt me deeply, especially because I had always cared for them, considering them my second family since my own is far away. They had always called me their daughter, but now, it was clear how they truly felt. Despite everything with his family, my husband remains a loving partner. He never complains about his family to me, and I’ve come to realize that my focus on their behavior overshadowed our marriage. There were times when my husband felt alone in dealing with his family, and I wasn’t there to support him the way I should have been. Since the incident where my in-laws blamed me, I’ve come to understand that they don’t truly care about me. I’ve spent too much energy trying to please them, only to be hurt—especially after losing three babies. I refuse to let their toxic behavior continue to impact my marriage or my peace of mind. I’m now focused on rebuilding myself as a happy, kind, and independent person. My priority is strengthening my relationship with my husband and letting go of the stress caused by his family. Next week, I’ll be attending a meditation retreat to reset and focus on positivity. I plan to prioritize our careers, save money, and enjoy life together. If his family continues to disrespect me, I’ll choose not to see them, with my husband’s full support. I’m determined to save our marriage and not give up. Right now, I’ve never felt our relationship stronger than it is today.2675
Honora AmouraHonora Amoura