You did nothing again!” Maria Pavlovna’s voice echoed throughout the apartment as soon as Elena entered the living room. Her mother-in-law stood by the window, arms folded over her chest, and looked at her daughter-in-law with a disapproving expression.
Elena sighed deeply, trying not to fall into the provocation. It wasn’t the first time, and every time she came home, she expected those words as an inevitable part of her life.
“Maria Pavlovna,” began Elena, striving to remain calm even though she was boiling inside, “I’ve been cleaning since early this morning, and then I went shopping. What else was I supposed to do?”
Her mother-in-law, not taking her eyes off the window, only smirked disdainfully.
“Of course you cleaned,” she said sarcastically. “Your idea of cleanliness is very peculiar. And what’s with this shopping? Again, some unnecessary things?”
Elena felt her shoulders tense. It was as always: Maria Pavlovna interfered in every aspect of their lives, from cleaning to what Elena cooked for dinner. Over the years of living together in the same apartment, Elena’s life had turned into an endless struggle for her place in the family.
“I bought groceries for dinner,” she said, trying not to show her anger. “What you call ‘unnecessary things’ are exactly what our family needs.”
Maria Pavlovna turned to her, her eyes gleaming with discontent.
“If you knew how to manage a household properly,” she said, “you would know how to save on food. I’ve always told Anton that you don’t have enough sense to run a home.”
Elena froze, her hands clenching into fists. She was a good wife and mother, always doing her best for her family. But with Maria Pavlovna, it was impossible—she gave her no peace for a minute, always finding something to criticize.
“Maria Pavlovna,” Elena began, feeling a wave of anger building inside, “this is our home. I live here with my husband and child, and I have the right to decide how to run it.”
Her mother-in-law frowned, her face growing even more serious.
“Oh, really?” she asked, her voice full of contempt. “You think you can manage this home better than me? You can’t even cook a proper dinner!”
Elena could no longer hold back. She felt as if her mother-in-law’s words were a slap to her self-esteem.
“I’m not obligated to report to you,” she replied firmly. “This is my life, and I have the right to make decisions in my own home.”
Those words seemed to hang in the air, and a deathly silence fell over the room. Maria Pavlovna looked at her daughter-in-law as if she had said something unbelievable, something beyond acceptable limits.
“So you speak to me like that in my own house?” her mother-in-law coldly asked. “I have lived here my whole life, and you have no right to kick me out.”
Elena froze, realizing her words might have come out too harshly, but it was too late to back down. Over the past few years, she had grown tired of the constant nitpicking and judgment. She needed her own space, her right to live.
“I’m not saying you should leave,” she said, trying to soften her tone, “but you must understand that Anton and I are now building our own family. You can’t interfere in every decision we make.”
Maria Pavlovna pursed her lips, her face expressing a mixture of hurt and dissatisfaction.
“I just want to help you,” she said quietly, though her voice carried disappointment. “I always wanted my son to live in plenty and order, and you just don’t understand that.”
Elena looked at her mother-in-law, feeling her heart contract with bitterness. She knew that Maria Pavlovna loved her son, but her love had turned into a desire to control every little detail of their lives.
“We appreciate your help,” Elena said softly, “but we need to learn how to be a family on our own.”
Maria Pavlovna was silent for a long while before responding.
“Very well,” she finally said, her voice quiet and calm. “I won’t interfere anymore. But remember, if something goes wrong, I’m always here.”
Elena sighed with relief, feeling that this was the first step toward restoring peace in their home. Yet inside, she felt that the conflict was far from over.