Recently, Vasily, a successful businessman, and Maria, a talented designer, got married.
All of the groom’s relatives, except for his mother, welcomed the new daughter-in-law warmly.
Olga Nikolaevna was known for her strictness and high standards in everything—from household comfort to family relationships.
Maria, despite her many virtues, simply couldn’t meet her mother-in-law’s expectations for the ideal wife for her son.
One day, during a family visit to Olga Nikolaevna’s home, something happened that changed the relationship between the two women.
While the hostess bustled in the kitchen, the newlyweds relaxed in the living room, discussing the upcoming weekend.
“Maybe I should offer to help your mom?” Maria turned to her husband.
“As you like… I think that would be good. She’s still a bit wary of you,” Vasily replied.
The young woman headed to the kitchen, where appetizing aromas were already spreading.
“Olga Nikolaevna, can I help?” she asked, stopping in the doorway.
The hostess hesitated before answering, “You’re probably tired after work. Go rest. I’ll manage on my own.”
Back in the living room, Maria felt awkward. Noticing this, Vasily tried to cheer his wife up, but he realized his mother’s refusal had hurt her.
The man went to the kitchen to find out why.
“Mom, what’s going on? Masha cooks wonderfully. Why did you turn down her help?”
“I’m not denying that, son, but there should only be one mistress of the kitchen. Let her sit and relax,” Olga Nikolaevna explained.
After dinner, the mother-in-law asked to speak to her son alone.
“Son, I have to say… Maria is a good girl, but she doesn’t meet my expectations,” she began in a whisper.
“In what sense?” Vasily grew alert.
“Her appearance… She absolutely doesn’t take care of herself. Her clothes, her hairstyle, her manners—none of it matches my idea of the wife of my son.”
Vasily was stunned by such statements.
“Mom, Maria is a wonderful person. She’s smart, kind, talented. Looks aren’t the main thing…”
“For me, they are fundamentally important,” said Olga Nikolaevna with a heavy sigh. “I can’t accept her in my home until she changes. Why am I telling you this? In a month it’s my birthday. And I don’t want to see Masha at the celebration. I think you understand why.”
Vasily was shocked. He didn’t know what to do. On the one hand, he loved his mother and valued her opinion. On the other—his heart belonged to Maria, and he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.
“I understand,” the son replied, and headed back to the living room.
“Did something happen?” Maria asked anxiously, noticing his troubled face.
Vasily, hiding nothing, recounted his conversation with his mother. Hearing her mother-in-law’s criticism, Maria turned pale.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m trying to be a good wife, but apparently that isn’t enough for Olga Nikolaevna. What’s wrong with my appearance?”
Vasily only shrugged. Seeing tears in his wife’s eyes, he hugged her and whispered:
“You don’t have to live up to everyone else’s expectations…”
Maria felt humiliated and insulted. She decided to tell Olga Nikolaevna everything directly.
Summoning all her resolve and wiping away her tears, the daughter-in-law went to the kitchen. In a trembling voice, she asked:
“Olga Nikolaevna, I need to speak with you.”
The mother-in-law turned in surprise and, barely suppressing a smile, replied:
“What is it?”
“Vasily told me you’re unhappy with my appearance,” Maria began, frowning. “What exactly bothers you? I try to dress decently…”
“Yes, you try,” Olga Nikolaevna cut her off. “But to be honest, I can’t accept you as you are.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Your appearance,” the mother-in-law snapped. “You don’t take care of yourself at all. Your clothes, your hair, your behavior—none of it matches my idea of a successful man’s wife. Who in their right mind dyes their hair purple?” she added, shaking her head.
Maria’s heart clenched. She didn’t know what to say. All this time she had tried to look presentable, but apparently it wasn’t enough.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I’m trying to be better, but it seems that’s still not enough.”
“If you truly want to be part of our family, you’ll have to change,” Olga Nikolaevna pronounced judgmentally. “You must look as befits the wife of a respected man, not wear purple hair and piercings in your nose and eyebrows! You have a month to dye your hair back and remove the jewelry.”
“And if I don’t?” Maria finished for her.
“Then don’t expect an invitation to my birthday,” the mother-in-law replied with a cold smirk.
“Fine,” the daughter-in-law nodded. “Don’t wait for me.”
Maria had no intention of changing herself for Olga Nikolaevna. It was easier for her to cut off contact with her mother-in-law. And so they didn’t speak for several years.
However, when Maria gave birth to a son, Olga Nikolaevna hurried to visit her grandson.
The daughter-in-law opened the door and, raising an eyebrow, asked:
“Why did you come?”
“To see my grandson…”
“No. I don’t want to let you into my home because you don’t look the way I imagine the grandmother of my son should. Red hair… Botox… No, real grandmothers don’t look like that!” Maria shot back.
Olga Nikolaevna nearly burst into tears. Lowering her eyes guiltily, she said softly:
“Forgive me. I got carried away with my criticism back then… I’m already old and said many things I shouldn’t have…”
Maria couldn’t help a faint smile. Shaking her head, she still let her mother-in-law into the apartment.
Gradually, their relationship began to improve. Olga Nikolaevna tried to please her daughter-in-law and earn forgiveness. Being a kind person, Maria forgave her and allowed her to spend time with her grandson.