I’m at a Loss for Words on How to Explain to My Daughter-in-Law That My Son Has Gastritis and Needs a Special Diet!

I cant seem to find the words that will make my daughterinlaw understand that my son is suffering from chronic gastritis and must live on a strict, therapeutic diet.

Harry is twentyseven. Just six months ago he walked down the aisle and married Eleanor. As a wedding gift, Eleanors parents presented the couple with a tidy twobedroom flat in Manchester, and they have been living there ever since.

Theres nothing about Eleanor that gives me cause for dislike. Shes pleasant, intelligent and striking, coming from a respectable familyher father is a GP, her mother a schoolteacher, and Eleanor herself is about to graduate from medical school.

My worry, however, is for Harry. I see that Eleanor isnt a particularly diligent housekeeper, and she looks after Harry far too loosely. His gastritis is hereditary; my late husband battled stomach ulcers his whole life. The condition flares each spring and autumn, and he must watch everything he eats.

When Harry still lived with me, I made sure his meals were proper. The moment he married, I warned Eleanor that he needed dietfriendly cooking. She nodded in agreement, yet nothing changed.

I try not to intrude on their private life, dropping by only occasionally. But whenever Im there I see pile after pile of empty pizza boxes. They tell me the visitors were friends dropping by.

Opening the fridge, I never find ordinary foodjust slices of ham, blocks of cheese, ketchup and mayo. Theres no soup, no fruit, no yoghurt, no dairy, no eggs.

I brought home a selection of meatrabbit, turkey and chickenhoping Eleanor would make a nourishing soup for Harry. She never did; the parcels I bought are still sitting in the freezer.

I realise Eleanor is still young. Perhaps the demands of her studies leave her with little time, but at her age I was already a mother of two, juggling a household on my own. She cant even look after her own husband!

I offered her a helping hand. If youre struggling, let me step in. Let me cook and bring the food, I said. She always refuses. Harry remains silent, saying nothing at all. Recently he was rushed to the hospital with an acute stomach inflammation.

Im at a loss for how to turn this around. I dont want to damage my relationship with Eleanor, nor inflame the situation, but it pains me that she ignores my pleas. Im terrified for Harrys health and cant see another way to influence Eleanor.

Perhaps someone can give me advice.