Are You Completely Blind? That’s Not Even Your Daughter!

My future wife and I had been together for just under a year when we first met her mum. I never suspected her attitude towards me, or even our daughterwho arrived right on time after we wedwould turn out to be so mistrustful and sour. The trouble started because our little girl came out a textbook blonde, with bright blue, cornflower eyes, while my wife looked rather swarthy, just like her younger brother.

While my wife was still in the maternity unit, my mother-in-law rang up to congratulate me and said she was eager to meet her new granddaughter. So, the meeting happened. As soon as she saw us, her face closed off, and right there in the hallway, she asked, So, did they swap babies on you?

Other people in the waiting area were completely gobsmacked, watching as my mother-in-law stared at me, clearly expecting a reply. I stumbled over my words, pointing out that Id been with the baby the entire time, so nothing like that could have happened.

It was obvious my mother-in-law had more to say, even if she stayed quiet then. But once we were home, as my wife and I fussed over the baby, she declared, Thats not your daughter. Are you blind?

My wife stood there, stunned, and then my mother-in-law kept pressing: Shes nothing like you! She doesnt resemble your wife either! Use your brainwhy would this happen? Must be someone elses child!

That was when my wife put her foot down and showed her mother to the door. I was left stung and on the verge of tears. Wed looked forward to this day so much, the pregnancy had been far from smooth, but at least our daughter was healthy and lively. I remember when the doctor handed over the loud, pink baby and joked, What a little singer youve got here! Lungs like a champ!

I smiled as our daughter was checked over and laid next to me, before being wheeled off to the ward. Whilst still in hospital, Id pictured a joyful family do after we got home, carefully planning how wed celebrate togetherbut instead it fell apart with a row.

After my mother-in-law stormed out, my wife tried to comfort me, and we even managed to sit at the table together, but the whole atmosphere was spoiled. My mother-in-law seemed like a changed womanafter my wife stood up to her, she didnt let up one bit, instead launching into a full attack on our family. The phone calls to my wife came regularly; on her rare visits to our place, she brought only snide comments directed at me and my happiness. She never picked up her granddaughter, but managed to corner her daughter whenever she could, pushing for a DNA test and demanding eye-to-eye contact. I could hear every nasty word from the next room. My wife reassured her that the child was absolutely ours, that she trusted me and always would, but the old woman just scoffed: Well then, how about we confirm it!

One evening, sick of listening to the endless accusations, I barged into the kitchen during one of her interrogations and said, If youre so convinced, lets have it out and order a DNA test. Maybe we can get a lovely fancy frame for the result, and you can hang it up above your bed!

My mother-in-laws eyes flashed with anger, and she couldnt form a response. My words dripped with sarcasm, but the point was perfectly clear.

In the end, we did the test. My wife didnt bother reading it, knowing full well what it would say. My mother-in-law did, though, and silently handed the paper back to me. I quipped, So, how would you like the frameoak or mahogany?

She turned on me, furious: Think this is funny, do you? Probably just a mate of yours did the test or you paid someone to fudge the results! Look at my younger brothers child: dark-skinned just like her father, no question!

To be honest, the result my mother-in-law had been clamouring for didnt change her attitude one bit, and the tension between us persisted. The next five years slipped by, filled with family spats about the same thing. During this time, I became pregnant again, about three months after my sister-in-lawmy wifes brothers partner. We had a great relationship with them. Theyd always give a helpless shrug when my mother-in-law started up her old nonsense about the paternity of my eldest.

My wifes brothers second child was also a little girl. We all went to the hospital to welcome them home and, lifting the blanket, I couldnt help but laugh: She was the spitting image of my own daughter! Everyone looked at me, puzzled, and through laughter I said, Go on thenplanning to accuse your own sons wife of playing around as well?

The joke landed; most saw the funny side, though only my mother-in-laws face turned beetroot red. That was the beginning of the breakthrough. First, she reeled in her accusations, then, the first time I saw her playing dolls with my daughter, I realised things had finally thawed.

These days, my eldest is her favourite; shes our little princess, my darling, and the like. My mother-in-law spoils her with gifts and tries to make up for the years of coldness and suspicion. Ive no real anger left, although, like the old saying goes, theres still a bit of a sting lingering. Hopefully, with time, thatll fade away.