Can You Believe It? My Brother Has Not Only a Country House, but Also Three Apartments! Maria, a 45-Year-Old Woman, Complains About Her Husband’s Parents: “My In-Laws Bought All of This for My Younger Brother-in-Law, and Now They’ve Even Left Him Their Own Apartment in the Will!”

This afternoon, as I sat with my friend Emily over a cup of tea in my kitchen, she looked at me with surprise and asked, I just dont understand, why did your husbands parents leave him nothing? Their grandchildren could have done with a little support!

Oh, who knows what goes through some peoples minds, I replied, feeling that old frustration rising again. The youngest has always been on his own, and yet he already owns a three-bedroom flat in Stratford, plus two more two-bedroom places, and even a three-storey cottage in the countryside. And all of it from his parents! Apparently, its still not enough for him. Meanwhile, my husband was left with nothing at all.

Mark and I have been married for twelve years now, with two childrenCharlotte, whos ten, and Oliver, six. My relationship with Marks parents was always complicated. They never missed an opportunity to meddle, constantly telling us what we should or shouldnt do. His mother, Evelyn, was the worst of it; shed criticise my every choice, and, bizarrely, insisted I call her Mum.

I have my own mother, I dont need another, I told her, as politely as I could manage, but she wouldnt let up.

Still, the real difficulties began after our eldest was born. Evelyn started turning up announced, acting as though our home was hers. I refused to answer the door or the phone when I saw it was her. Eventually, she seemed to realise how overbearing she was being and pulled back, stopped pushing herself into our lives.

With some help from my own mum now and again, I managed well enough with the children. Over time, as they got older, we moved further away from the areaput more distance, literally and figuratively, from Marks mother.

Marks parents were genuinely wealthy and sharp; always jetting off on some trip abroad, filling their days with theatre performances and dining out with friends. Our contact with them grew sparse; even on holidays, there always seemed to be some urgent city break or foreign holiday that meant they werent around.

Then, out of nowhere, Mark and I discovered his parents were leaving everything to the youngest brother. I couldnt let it go; I rang Evelyn directly, demanding to understand.

What were you expecting? she shot back, cool as ever. You never let me see my grandchildren, and youve turned Mark against us. But my youngest son, he still remembers his family. He rings, he visitsits only fair he should get everything.

Im left wondering: is it ever really possible to agree with decisions like this?