Hope you are doing well. I am kinda mentally disturbed and badly need your suggestion. I have been in love and married for 13 yrs. I have a son and a daughter. I'm a working woman. I'm being constantly ill-treated by my mother-in-law. I know such issues exist in every household. But here, it has been a never-ending issue for 13 years now. She is very insecure, when it comes to household chores, my kids and my husband and feels all these areas should be in her control. She feels she is to be given utmost attention and only her thoughts and feelings to be respected and are always right. She insults me, mocks me, and doesn't treat me like a part of the family, though I’m selfless and continue to care for my in-laws and other family members. She keeps hurting me with her words, gestures and behaviour. To her, I'm like a constant pester and she doesn't feel satisfied with any chores or work at home or family. I'm a big mess. She often states 'I’m her` target` and will continue to hurt me verbally and with gestures. My husband doesn't raise questions on his mom's insane behaviour, as she threatens to harm herself. This is a routine she carries out, whenever she wants to. I have zero support from my husband to change his mom and or understand my feelings. Neither should I voice out my views or feelings. I have to look out for her moods and actions and act accordingly, any time. I have no self-respect, no dignity here. It doesn't feel like this is my house or my family, except for my kids. My kids are growing up and I feel I will lose respect amongst them, when she constantly taunts me and insults me for no reason. I have no parents or siblings to share my feelings. I open up with my close friends for a temporary vent out, otherwise, it really doesn't serve any purpose. I feel like I have to live eternally with this mental abuse, as I'm unable to put up with her behaviour and harassment. Acting as if I'm fine every day is killing me. This type of behaviour makes me feel very low and my self-esteem is affected. I feel worthless and my whole life feels like a sheer curse. Please help me get out of this situation and make my mother-in-law mend her behaviour towards me. Awaiting your response.

Dear SS, A story in many patriarchal households! What can you do to change her and your husband’s attitude on this? Nothing at all. It’s like a stubborn gene that wants to hold on to age-old beliefs where the mother-in-law rules the home and calls the shots, the son blindly supports his mother’s tantrums. What can you do when your children also are growing up in this environment? Here’s where you can put your foot down. Your children have to learn to respect their mother for who she is. So, stop playing the victim in your situation and take charge. I am sure the children are at an age where their minds are impressionable and can be beautifully shaped to accept different people in the household. Instead of spending time cursing your situation, spend the same time being with your children, bonding with them. Talk and spend a lot of time going out, watching TV, cooking, reading, listening to music and more. What will start to happen is that the children will learn to hold space for you when you are down and out. And do take care that while you are bonding with them, never talk ill about their father or their grandmother. This activity isn’t to distance one from the other but to give you a new way of thinking in the existing circumstances. Having said this, if your husband is someday ready to talk to you about this, by all means be assertive. Till then, it’s not necessary to suffer. Either you can fight and get fingers pointed back at you or you can negotiate a situation wisely to maintain the peace at home. You always have that choice. Whatever you choose, never sit in silence and do nothing. That’s what your children will learn; to suffer in silence. So, time to make some subtle and meaningful changes? Best wishes!