Hello all, I am a 32 year old female. My first marriage ended because my ex-husband was not interested in being married. His parents had forced him into the marriage, and as a result, he did not treat me as his wife. After legally divorcing him, I remarried after a gap of 5 years to my current husband. My mother-in-law is extremely toxic and narcissistic. She essentially treats me like I’m untouchable. She monitors my every movement, from using the toilet in the morning to going to bed at night.
I’m not allowed to touch anything in the house, including groceries. I’m not allowed to use the washing machine, so I wash my clothes by hand. While I don’t mind washing clothes by hand, I’m not even given space to hang them out to dry. She watches how often I wash my hands, and if I miss washing them even once, she starts an argument. She takes my salary, and I’m not allowed to cook on days when I fast. I even had to ask for permission to visit my parents’ house during my periods.
On top of all this, my husband and I don’t have a proper relationship. He often stops talking to me for days or even months. In fact, he has not spoken to me since June. I involved my parents, and they visited my in-laws to discuss how I’ve been treated, but my in-laws blamed me, saying I don’t adjust well, that I talk back, argue, and fight with my mother-in-law. I also informed my husband’s aunt, who arranged our marriage, and she confirmed that my mother-in-law’s behavior is abnormal.
Recently, my husband said that he won’t act like a husband until I adjust to life in their house the way he expects. I am currently staying at my parents’ house due to my periods. How long can I stay here before it becomes an issue? Can my husband take any legal steps if I don’t return?
Life’s tough. But you need to take a hard call. If you are not happy, till when do you want to suffer? Your happiness should be priority over your in-law’s. I am a 36 yr old married man. If you want to open up.