To my mother-in-law with love

One of the blessings I have in this life is a gift of a good mother-in-law. I've always prayed to have a good mother-in-law who'll be a mother to me, not just an in-law and God did it for me. And so, I am grateful.

My relationship with my mother-in-law is a mother-to-daughter relationship. Apart from the fact that she didn't give birth to me physically, she gave birth to my "soul mate" (my husband). That makes her my mother too.

When people usually see me relating with my mother-in-law, they think I am her grandchild or her own daughter, but no. She's my mother-in-law. I accepted her, loved and accepted her as my mother. I look beyond her flaws because, as far as I'm concerned, no human is perfect.

I forgive her even when I know she has hurt me. Yes, I do. I remember when I wanted to marry my husband, she really kicked against it, reasons known to her, but I looked beyond that. She also scolds me whenever I do anything wrong, and I apologise and we both move on as a family.

My relationship with my mother-in-law is a cordial one, not what I see or hear about other mothers-in-law. I am so blessed to have her.

I have not lived with my mother-in-law before, but I used to visit her. Although it has been long due to my work schedule. People see her as someone who is troublesome. For me, I don't see that in her because I respect her boundaries and she respects mine.

So, I can live with her without having any issues, although my church denomination, as a Christian, doesn't consent to living with in-laws to avoid future misunderstanding.

I don't need to impress her further. From the times I used to visit her, even before we legally got married, she knew my kind of person. I'm hard-working and respectful, that she knows.

When I visit my parents' in-laws, I help them with house chores and wash their clothes if they have any. Then, help them on their farm. I also try as much as possible to communicate positively with them too, not giving them attitudes or look down on them.

Some people cannot get along with their mother-in-law because they cannot accept them for who they are. Some of them may be difficult to deal with because of character differences, but if we take them as our mothers, love them for who they are, forgive them like we forgive our own biological mothers, we will be able to tolerate their excesses. After all, our biological mothers offend us, and we cover up and still love them. That's how it should also be, even with our mothers-in-law, no matter how difficult they seem to be.

If there's anyone who has a difficult mother-in-law, it is me, but I'd already made up my mind to tolerate, love and accept her for who she is and not measure her with my mother because they are two different people. And so, I did that. It works for me.

That's why she calls whenever I'm busy, and I don't call her. She can scold me whenever I do anything and I also accept my faults. We discuss and laugh together as if we were friends and not a daughter and mother-in-law relationship.

I treat my mother-in-law well, love and accept her because there's karma. I will grow up and become a mother-in-law too. I already have a son, who I want to live and see him grow to get married someday. Although I have made up my mind to be one of the finest and best mothers-in-law too.

I'm inviting
@okere-blessing
@okechkwu-martha
@chilaw

^{Pictures are all mine shot with my phone itel A70}