My DIL Disrespected Me in Front of Everyone, and My Son’s Response Broke My Heart

Emma cared for her 90-year-old mother-in-law as if she were her own mother. But dealing with her own health problems made it harder and harder until the family finally had to make the tough decision to move her into a nursing home. What Emma never imagined was that behind her back, her MIL had made a decision that would lead to a real family conflict.
Dear Bright Side,
For 5 years, I cared for my 90 yo MIL, making sure she never felt lonely after FIL passed away. Despite our efforts, nothing worked. I have health problems, and I was exhausted from doing everything on my own during my free time.We decided to send her to a nursing home. She shook her head, saying, “I never thought it would come to this.” My husband stayed silent.
A week later, we froze when we discovered that her sister’s family had taken her in, and she planned to leave her inheritance to them. After all we’d done, it felt like a betrayal. I had sacrificed so much, but now she treated us like strangers. I wanted to care for myself, too. Was I wrong?
Emma
Thank you for writing to us and sharing your story. Your frustration and feelings are completely valid, and you’re not alone: family conflicts are more common than you might think. Here are a few tips that may help you cope with this situation.
Caring for a family member can be rewarding but also exhausting and complicated. Even when we give our all, things don’t always turn out as hoped, like in this story, where this woman’s efforts weren’t recognized and her mother acted behind her back.