We live with my mother-in-law. Before you ask why, we live in her house. When we got married last year, I had to join her here because of some circumstances. It’s a long story for another day.

When I came here, I realized it was my mother-in-law who was doing everything in this house. She would cook the food and clean the kitchen. On Saturdays, she would do the washing. Because of that, I took my things out of the laundry and started doing them on my own.

My wife wouldn’t do anything in this house because of her mother. You talk about it, and she tells me her mom isn’t complaining, so why am I the one complaining?

Because her mom was the one cooking and doing the dishes, anytime I finished eating, I would wash my bowl or plate and add whatever dirty dishes were in the sink and wash them too.

As time went on, my mother-in-law stopped doing it. Instead, she would shout, “The dishes are overflowing, so why is no one washing them?” Most often, she would say it in my direction, and I would get up and go and do it.

Because of that, it has become my job.

She does the cooking, and I do the dishes, while my wife does whatever pleases her.

I don’t eat fufu, so the two of them would prepare it and send it to the machine to be pounded for them. Then the machine got spoilt, so my mother-in-law asked me to pound it for her.

I did it once, and now she wants it to become my job.

I came home from town one day to meet cassava and plantain waiting for me to pound. Meanwhile, my wife was on the sofa pressing her phone.

My mother-in-law said, “Oh, we’ve been waiting for you all this while. I didn’t know you would stay out for this long.”

What Caused The Breakup Between You And Your Ex?

I pounded the fufu, but I told my wife, “This is the last time I’m going to pound fufu in this house. If you can’t pound it, then don’t make it.”

She answered, “Why are you telling me? Am I the one who asked you to pound the fufu? My mom is there. Go and tell her.”

I know the best way to end this husband abuse is to leave this house, but for the meantime, how do I communicate this inconvenience to my mother-in-law in a way that she wouldn’t take offence?

I live in her house. I don’t want to upset her.

—David

This story you just read was sent to us by someone just like you. We know you have a story too. Email it to us at [email protected]. You can also drop your number and we will call you so you tell us your story.

******