She Moved in with Her Son to Stay with Her Mum, and He’s in No Rush to Bring Her Home

Its all my own doing! my friends sister weeps. I never thought things would turn out like this! Now I dont even know what I should do. I have no idea how to make it right without making a fool of myself.

My sister got married a few years back.

After the wedding, it was agreed that the newlyweds would live with the husbands mum. My mum has a spacious three-bedroom flat, and being an only child, it just made sense.

Ill keep one room for myself, and the rest is yours, the mother-in-law declared. Were all civilised people, so well get along just fine. The groom told his new wife, If it doesnt work out, we can always get our own place. Nothing wrong with giving it a go, right? And if its awful, well just rent a flat somewhere else.

So thats what they did. But as it turned out, living together wasnt as rosy as it sounded. Both daughter-in-law and mother-in-law put in the effort, but the tension just kept building. Little grievances stacked up quietly until theyd explode into arguments, which seemed to happen more and more often.

You promised wed pack up and leave if things didnt work out with your mum! the wife cried at her husband. But its just little things, he shrugged with a patronising smile. Leaving over that would be mad.

A year after the wedding, the wife went on maternity leave, and before long she brought a healthy son into the world.

Her sons arrival happened to coincide with her mother-in-law being out of work shed left her job and was struggling to find another one, as not many employers were eager to hire someone near retirement age. Both women ended up stuck together at home, under each others feet, all day every day. The atmosphere in the flat grew ever more strained.

Her husband just shrugged it off being the sole breadwinner for the family, he thought it was up to the women to sort themselves out.

I cant just leave my mum now that shes without a job. I cant leave her in the lurch, and I cant afford to rent somewhere and still help her out financially. Once she finds a job, then well move out!

But before his mum had any luck with a new job, his wifes patience finally wore thin. She packed up her things and their sons, and moved back in with her own mum. Before leaving, she told her husband shed never set foot in his mothers flat again. If he cared about his family, he should figure something out.

She was sure her husband would miss her and their son, and would do anything to get them back. But she couldnt have been more wrong.

Over three months have passed since she moved in with her mum. Her husband hasnt made any real effort to win her back. Hes still living with his mother. After work, he calls his wife and son for a chat online, then comes round to her mums house for a visit at the weekends.

Now they have what amounts to a guest marriage.

The husband gets looked after by both his mother and, to some extent, his wife; her own mother feels for her son, whose horrible wife left him, and he doesnt even have to deal with caring for the baby. In a way, hes come out on top. And nothing much, really, has changed for his mum.

Meanwhile, the wife is eating her heart out every night. She absolutely hates this situation. She still loves her husband, even though she knows he isnt doing right by her.

What did you expect when you walked out? her husband tells her. You can come back if you want.

But its pretty clear her husband has no intention of leaving his mum and renting a flat. The wife is on maternity leave, understandably without the money to get her own place.

Is this really the end for them?

Do you think she stands any chance of returning to her mother-in-laws home and saving face?