How I Met My Mother-in-Law (Spoiler: One of Us Was Naked)

home insemination Kit

So, let’s just say my introduction to my future mother-in-law wasn’t exactly conventional. Sure, I had met her a couple of times at the door during quick hellos, but this was the first time we truly connected—eye contact and all.

It was a memorable moment. I was 19, and my boyfriend, Jake, was 21. After a long year of being apart at different colleges, we were finally back together for summer. Jake had a house-sitting gig, which meant we could enjoy some serious quality time without the awkwardness of making out in his car or a crowded theater. We were all in.

Then came the moment of truth. Just as Jake and I were getting cozy, his mom, Linda, decided to surprise him with a basket of muffins. And guess what? She had a key. Who knew? She burst into the bedroom, and there we were—her eyes locked with mine, while Jake was… well, you get the picture.

That split second of eye contact confirmed all my fears. She didn’t approve of me—not just because I was caught in such an awkward situation, but for a whole list of reasons. I was too bold, too casual, and apparently, I wasn’t the right kind of girl for her son. The fact that I wasn’t Catholic, and we were engaged in some pre-marital fun, did not win me any points either.

In a desperate attempt to deal with her shock (or maybe to scare me off?), she called my mom. Oh boy, talk about a bad move. My mom was not having any of it. She had always believed that once I turned 18, I could make my own choices, and she stood by that. When Linda labeled me as a wayward daughter, my mom flipped out, and I can’t blame her.

What followed was a chaotic whirlwind. Jake and I packed up and drove across the country to start fresh. We left behind the drama for 14 months. Ironically, Linda’s panic ended up bringing us closer together. Her reaction pushed us to evaluate our relationship, and we ended up tying the knot a year later.

Fast forward 16 years, and while Jake’s mom and my mom still don’t see eye to eye, I’ve managed to find common ground with Linda. Having kids seemed to help mend some fences, so I went ahead and had three.

Linda still has her quips (“I wish I had all day to write books instead of cleaning!”), but she’s also a loving grandmother who steps in whenever we need her. We might not always agree on parenting, politics, or religion, but we’ve found our common interests, like enjoying a good cup of tea or collecting White House Christmas ornaments.

Oh, and that time she was helping out while Jake was away, and I was with our son at the hospital? She found a rather unique glass toy under my pillow. Instead of making a big deal of it, she simply changed the sheets and left it there. It’s these moments that remind me of how far we’ve come.

So yeah, my mother-in-law might not always approve of me, and I might not always approve of her, but we’ve come to accept one another—glass toys and all.

Summary

The author recounts an unconventional first meeting with her future mother-in-law, which involved an awkward surprise and some serious misunderstandings. Despite initial disapproval and drama, the two women eventually find common ground over the years, particularly after the author becomes a mother herself.