A mother’s love for her children is limitless, and she expects reciprocation in care. When Larissa’s husband died, her son didn’t want her to be alone, so he offered her to live with himself, his wife, and their children.
Larissa was overjoyed, but she was surprised by the rules her daughter-in-law imposed. Here is her story.
When my son got married, we handed over our spacious house to him. Now that my husband has passed away and I’m living alone, he suggested I move in with them to be closer to my grandkids.
My daughter-in-law agreed but laid out some ground rules. “There are three conditions you need to accept if you’re going to live with us,” she said.
“First,” she began, her tone calm yet resolute, “we have a quiet time policy starting from 8 p.m. This is crucial for the kids’ bedtime routine and for us to unwind. No TV, no kitchen access, and no loud noises or disturbances during this time.”
I nodded, recognizing the importance of routines for young children, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this rule than met the eye.
“Second,” she continued, her gaze steady, “we’re a vegan household. That means no animal products in the house whatsoever. If you can’t agree to that, we’ll have to consider other options.”
“And finally,” she added, “since I work full-time, I need some help around the house, especially with cooking. I often don’t have the time to prepare meals, so I’d like you to make vegan dishes every evening.”
She handed me a book of vegan recipes to get started.
As much as I adore my grandkids, this felt overly strict and somewhat demeaning. It felt like I was being hired as a maid in my own son’s home, trading work for a place to stay.
