Sometimes, we might believe we know everything about our closest family members, only to discover shocking truths that can shatter even the strongest relationships. The protagonist in this story lived under the assumption that both her mother and mother-in-law wanted only the best for her. However, she accidentally uncovered that these two women had secretly conspired against her, assuming they had the right to make significant life decisions on her behalf. After coming to terms with the shock, she now shares her full story.
Emily had always valued the relationships she had with her mom and mother-in-law. At 33, Emily recently wrote us an emotional letter detailing her painful decision to sever ties with both her mother and mother-in-law. She now seeks advice from our readers on whether they would make a similar choice if they found themselves in her situation.
Emily begins her letter with, “Hi! I’m reaching out to share my story with your readers because I’m in a complicated situation and need some guidance. I’ve lost trust in most people around me, so I’m hoping that by sharing my experience, I can find some objective advice from those who might have faced something similar. I’m eager to read the comments when my story is published, and I hope to find some helpful advice.”
Emily continues, “I’ve cut off contact with two of the most important people in my life because my mom and mother-in-law turned against me and started acting maliciously. I’ve always loved my mother, and we’ve had a strong, trusting relationship for as long as I can remember. As an only child, my mom raised me alone after my dad passed away when I was just three. My mom was a wonderful parent who took on both roles, ensuring I never lacked anything while growing up. She was always fiercely protective of me, and it pained her deeply when anyone mistreated me. My mother-in-law, on the other hand, became like a second mom to me the moment I met her. She’s always been incredibly kind and supportive, making me feel lucky to have her in my life.”
Despite some early warning signs, Emily chose to overlook them.
She elaborates, “Both my mom and mother-in-law were a huge help when I needed them. My husband and I both work full-time, and with two kids, we relied on them to care for our children while we were at work. However, I did notice some odd behaviors. For instance, they were overly involved in our family matters, asking too many questions about my relationship with my husband and offering help in areas where it wasn’t needed.”
Emily also shares, “I caught my mom looking through my husband’s phone a couple of times. When I confronted her, she claimed she wasn’t wearing her glasses and mistook it for her own phone. Similarly, my mother-in-law was caught reading messages on my phone and my husband’s computer. I found this inappropriate, but I brushed it off as harmless curiosity from an elderly lady.”
The turning point came when Emily overheard a disturbing conversation between her mom and mother-in-law.
She recounts, “Two months ago, I found out I was pregnant with our third child. This was a complete surprise to both my husband and me. I was unsure about continuing the pregnancy, as I hadn’t planned for another child, but my husband was overjoyed and convinced me that we could handle it together. So, I agreed. A few weeks later, I returned home from a doctor’s appointment and overheard my mom talking to my mother-in-law. They were both very emotional, and I heard my mom say, ‘He made a big mistake, but we can’t tell Emily. We need to keep it a secret because the truth will devastate her and her unborn baby.’ My mother-in-law responded, ‘Yes, we shouldn’t ruin their happy family. Everyone makes mistakes, and we just need to make sure he doesn’t see that woman again.’ It was clear they were discussing my husband and some mistake he made. I was instantly filled with anxiety and knew I had to find out what they were hiding.”
Emily decided to confront her mom and uncovered the painful truth.
She writes, “I spoke to my mom first, telling her that I overheard their conversation. She turned pale and refused to discuss it. I told her I would cut her out of my life and not let her see her grandchild if she didn’t tell me the truth. That’s when she confessed everything. I was shocked to learn that my husband had been cheating on me for six months. My mom said he had an affair and still insisted we keep the baby. The most heartbreaking part of this was that both my mom and mother-in-law knew about the affair before I became pregnant, yet they chose to keep it from me! They were aware that I was uncertain about having another child and that the decision to keep the baby was difficult for me, but they still decided to let me carry a child with a man who had betrayed me.”
Emily concludes, “I was devastated, frustrated, and overwhelmed. I didn’t want to see any of them—my husband, my mom, or my mother-in-law. I decided to keep the baby and raise him on my own. I cut off all contact with them and won’t allow any of them to be present when I give birth. Am I making the right choice, or should I at least consider forgiving my mom and giving her another chance to be a good mother and grandmother?”