The relationship with the in-laws can be a challenging one. The truth is that things turn even messier when the spouse sides with his parents instead with his significant other, and these ‘issues’ don’t necessarily get easier to deal with as time passes.
A woman named Evelyn took to Reddit to ask if she was in the wrong for revealing to everyone on the social media about the treatment she received by her in-laws during a visit prior to the holiday.
Here’s her story
I’m Evelyn, and if you think your holiday was rough, you might want to hear this one. Imagine a cozy family Christmas with two adorable newborns.
Now, imagine all of that going completely wrong. Let me set the stage for you: twins, a creepy barn, and in-laws who somehow managed to make me feel more like the hired help than part of the family.
It all started innocently enough. My husband, Mike, and I had been married for two years, and this Christmas was a big one—it was our twins’ first. Naturally, Mike’s parents invited us to stay at their house for two weeks. “It’ll be wonderful!” his mother had gushed over the phone. “We can finally meet our grandchildren!”
Of course, I was excited. Who wouldn’t be? I imagined two blissful weeks of rest, with Mike’s parents helping out with the babies, maybe even giving us a few precious hours of sleep.
I had packed everything with care; enough clothes for the twins, snacks for the plane, even a jar of wildflower honey for my mother-in-law because she’s obsessed with it in her tea. I was ready for the perfect family reunion.
But when we arrived… well, let’s just say things didn’t go as planned.
For illustration purposes only
Mike knocked on the door, and his mom opened it, her eyes lighting up as she spotted the twins. “Oh, look at them! They’re so precious!” she cooed.
The moment we stepped inside, my inlaws practically pounced, sweeping the babies up, smothering them with kisses, and cooing over their every little movement. And honestly, that part made me happy. That’s what every mother wants, right? To see her children loved, adored, cherished.
But then, things started to get strange. The more time passed, the more it became clear that this wasn’t the warm, family-filled Christmas I had imagined.
After we settled in, my father-in-law handed Mike a glass of wine, while his mom beamed, holding one of the twins. “Oh, Evelyn, we’ve set up your room,” she said, her voice a little too cheerful.
“Oh great, where are we staying?” I asked, expecting the guest room or something nearby.
“Well, Mike will be in his old room,” she said, avoiding my gaze.
I blinked. “And… where will I be?”
She hesitated. “We thought you might appreciate some space. You’ll be in the barn.”
I laughed, thinking it was a joke. “Wait, the barn? As in… an actual barn?”
“Yes, dear. It’s been converted. There’s a heater out there. It’s really quite cozy,” she said, nodding as if that explained everything.
For illustration purposes only
“Cozy? You want me to sleep in the barn? Away from my husband? Away from my kids?” I could feel my voice rising, but I tried to keep calm. Maybe there was some weird reasoning behind this.
Mike, standing behind his mom, shrugged. “It’s not a big deal, Ev. You’re making this into something it’s not.”
“Not a big deal? Mike, it’s a barn. With a bed and a space heater. It smells like hay and… I don’t even know what!” My stomach tightened just thinking about it. “Why would I be out there, while you’re in the house?”
He sighed, taking a sip of his wine. “You’re overreacting. The house is full, and my old room barely fits one person. Plus, the twins need quiet. It’s just for a couple of nights.”
I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. “Mike, we’re married. We have children. What kind of twisted logic is this?”
He rolled his eyes, already done with the conversation. “What are you complaining about? The barn has a bed, doesn’t it? It’s not like you’re roughing it in a tent.”
“You can’t be serious,” I said, my voice shaking. “I just had twins. I thought we’d be together for Christmas, not… separated like teenagers on some church retreat.”
Mike shrugged again as if it was no big deal. “It’s fine. Stop making this into a thing.”
I looked back at the barn, cold dread settling in. This was going to be a long two weeks.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Wait, where are the twins supposed to sleep?” I asked, my voice tight. I glanced at the barn again, panic rising. There was no way I could fit both babies in a single bed with me, and certainly not in a freezing barn that smelled like hay and dust.
Mike’s mother smiled politely as if she were about to tell me something wonderful. “Oh, we’ve set up a crib for them in our room
