Sincerely, Daughter in law who's tired of your questions
Marriage takes many things from a woman, but I feel as if I gained more than I lost. Growing up fatherless, I married into a family where I had a father-in-law who treated me like a daughter and brothers-in-law who were more like my own brothers whom I left behind. But most of all, I was happy to have so many nephews and nieces. I owe them countless days of company, and always happy ones. They were quite precocious for their age and would engage me in their talks as I moved around the house, busy with errands that never ended. If not all, at least one of them would always be there. God knows what would have happened had they not been there.
And like all things good, the good times stopped. My nieces and nephews are all abroad, making successful careers, living a happy life. I haven't changed much, but life hasn't been so kind. They might have forgotten what they were to me – friends, confidants – but I can never push them or the memories out of my mind. I will always be indebted.
Sincerely, Daughter in law who's alone
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. It certainly seems to be the case with us. I know the case with some of my friends who are married and living with their in-laws – absolute fiasco. Compared to that, we are in a much better place and there are no ill feelings between us. However, things could have easily come to that. If I miss a day when there's no Skype call or contact, then it's a burden next time. They don't call me and when I say they could have called me as well, a simple answer lifts the burden from their shoulder. "I thought you were busy so we didn't bother you," is your go-to answer. But we all know what that means. A daughter-in-law always has to make sure her family members are alright, but what they actually mean is we have to ensure that we don't cross any lines.
Sincerely, Daughter in law who's living abroad
The thing is that even when you have very nice in-laws, you have more problems than you can imagine. At least you can backbite and vent with your friends if they were evil, but in my situation, I have to be absolutely nice. And I do want to be nice to them. Oh, the pressure! I feel like I should impress them with the skills that I don't have and that can't be matched. I panic a lot when something goes wrong because I don't want to come across as a klutz. Hence I get really worked up while visiting them during the festivities and holidays. It is the mornings that scare me and I curse myself for waking up late at other times, because you see, it's considered ill-mannered of me if I wake up later than my in-laws, and I almost always wake up late. Surprisingly, I have never been taunted by my in-laws for that, and I suppose I'm relieved.
Sincerely, Daughter in law who's wary
How rare of a species am I? Very. I dare one to find a daughter-in-law like me who puts up with everyone, sun or rain. I'm there to do everyone's work, doing favors of all kinds and never expecting anything in return. Funny thing is, of all those people who are my relatives and near ones, those who have bothered me and those who I've let concern me with their troubles never come back once they are done with their problems. Basic human behavior. That, too, I expected. Nevertheless, I continue doing what I do.
Many times I've asked myself why I let myself be used in such a way. At other times, I'm too busy with tens of chores that spring up when you are married in a big family and never let it affect another person. I suppose you could say that this is how I was brought up, hence I'm making sure that others grow up like I did. But I don't think I would have done this if I had been in their place. Either way, I've accepted my fate. This is how things will be, and I don't really mind.
Sincerely, Daughter in law who doesn't complain
There hasn't been a day since I've been engaged that I haven't thought about it – how is it going to be? Even though it's been a few years that I came to know him, his family is a totally different story. Of course my fiancé is a product of how his family is and I can look for clues as to what I can expect, but can I? I don't think so. A few days ago, my fiancé and I went out to eat and he says his father absolutely hates going out. It doesn't matter for a moment but then he says that his father has never taken them out to dinner in all those years. I almost drop my fork. Of course it's superficial of me to think that such small things really matter, but who am I kidding? They do matter. All of it matters. Worst part is that no story I've heard till now would make a difference. I'm getting married soon. At this point, I imagine putting on the armor and getting ready to go to the battlefield.
Sincerely, Daughter in law to be
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