A young man noticed an elderly lady following him around while shopping in a supermarket. She stopped when he stopped and kept staring at him. Eventually, at the checkout, she approached him and said, “I hope I haven’t made you feel ill at ease; it’s just that you look so much like my late son.”
The man replied, “That’s okay.”
She then made an unusual request: “I know it’s silly, but if you’d call out, ‘Goodbye, Mom’ as I leave the store, it would make me so happy.”
Obligingly, as she left, the man called out, “Goodbye Mom!” She waved and smiled back.
Feeling pleased for brightening her day, the man proceeded to pay for his groceries. The clerk said, “That comes to $121.85.”
Surprised, the man exclaimed, “How come so much! I only bought 5 items.”
The clerk replied, “Yeah, but your mother said you’d be paying for her things too.”
My mother-in-law joined our honeymoon to torment me — I didn’t stand for it and executed the perfect retaliation.
This tale is a lesson in establishing boundaries, commanding respect, and much more. What was meant to be a joyous honeymoon for me and my husband quickly transformed into a stressful trip with my problematic mother-in-law in tow. Fortunately, I devised a strategy that solved the issue effectively.
What should have been a romantic escape for my husband and me turned sour rapidly when an unwelcome guest accompanied us. Let’s rewind to explain how this all unfolded.
As my husband, Mike, and I were about to leave for our honeymoon, he nonchalantly mentioned a detour to his mother’s house.
“Why?” I inquired, bewildered. “Because she’s joining us,” he responded. Confused, I pressed, “What?” With a sigh, he elaborated, “She’s never had a vacation or traveled abroad her whole life, so it’s only right she joins us.”
I was absolutely dumbfounded! “When were you going to tell me this? What about our plans?” I tried to remain composed. “I revised our reservations and tickets a while back,” he admitted.
“The truth is she insisted, and I thought you’d be okay with it since you’re always so understanding.” That comment shifted my bewilderment to outrage! I was furious that he had made these changes without consulting me.
The thought of spending our island getaway with my mother-in-law felt like a nightmare! I was so upset I nearly canceled the whole trip. But then, AN EXCELLENT IDEA CAME TO ME! When we reached my mother-in-law’s home, Mike went out to help her with her bags.
While he was busy, I quickly made a phone call. “Mom, hi. I’m in a bit of a bind,” I started. “What’s wrong, dear?” She sounded worried. “My mother-in-law convinced Mike to bring her along on our honeymoon.”
“What?! Oh no, Elle!” my mother gasped in dismay. “She’s tagging along to the islands, and I don’t know how I’ll manage. Could you and Dad come? I’ll book your flights.” Alarmed, she asked, “How did this happen?”
“There’s no time for details, Mom. I need to act fast.” Mom quickly understood the gravity of the situation and replied supportively, “Of course, dear. Your father and I would be glad to help! Just let us know where you’ll be, and we’ll handle the rest.”
I wasted no time booking their flights online and sent all the details to my mom. She assured me she’d do everything possible to make sure I could enjoy my time with Mike without my meddlesome mother-in-law interfering.
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