Source: Reddit
MIL has been married for 10 years. I really don’t know the guy because he doesn’t speak much English, but he is polite enough when they visit. We don’t have much of a relationship with either of them, because MIL thinks visiting us is boring and is offended that I don’t want to spend money. I don’t have to visit her across the world.
MIL met her husband 11 years ago when we were on a family trip together. She extended her own trip for a week, and after knowing him for 3 weeks decided she was going to move from America to Jordan to be with him, because he was the love of her life. Obviously we were extremely concerned, and did not want her to move to the Middle East with a stranger, but she did it anyway. They at least seem happy. I don’t really know due to the language barrier, but she seems ok and they are affectionate, but I still think moving across the world after 3 weeks is insane.
We talked to MIL on the phone last night. She wanted us to come see her this summer and meet her in Dubai. I don’t want to go to Dubai (as I tell her every summer) and she doesn’t want to come here because I’m apparently a bad hostess. I suggested we meet somewhere neutral and brought up Cancun because we love it there.
MIL made a comment about how she loves it there because that is where she met her husband. She then proceeded to tell my 10 year old daughter about how she moved to Jordan after 3 weeks. My daughter looked horrified and MIL just laughed and said she will understand when she is older. I said I really hope she never does. When my daughter walked off I confronted MIL and asked why she would tell a child that. I said even though it worked out for her, it was a stupid thing to do and I don’t want her romanticizing something like that for my kid. I want my daughter to grow up to be a smart, independent, intelligent woman, and not give up everything for a guy she has known for 3 weeks.
MIL said I was being rude and that she feels bad for my daughter because I’m such a miserable person and probably jealous. Then she hung up. My own mom took MILs side and said she wasn’t romanticizing it, she was telling a true story, and I must be jealous because who wouldn’t be. What are your opinions? Did I over react?
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