Planning a family trip with your in-laws can be exciting, but what happens when unexpected challenges tied to social status and cultural norms arise? This young woman found herself faced with tough decisions influenced by family expectations and societal pressures.
“I went on a family trip with my in-laws a couple of weeks back,” she shared. “My mother-in-law has this idea that I’m not very cultured or well-mannered because my family isn’t as well-off as hers. She thinks I lack proper etiquette just because we’re from different backgrounds.”
Initially, the family didn’t want her to join their plans, but her husband insisted and practically begged them to invite her. The exclusion wasn’t just limited to her; even her brother-in-law’s girlfriend wasn’t invited.
“When we arrived at the hotel, they made plans to go to this expensive restaurant for dinner. My husband didn’t mention it to me until the last minute, after he was already dressed up. When I asked what he was up to, he casually mentioned that he and his family were going out to eat, but I wasn’t invited,” she said.
His excuse? His mom thought she wouldn’t be comfortable with the type of food and how to behave at such a fancy place, so she believed it would be better if she stayed at the hotel for dinner. Instead of arguing, she made a decision. She packed her bags and left, catching the first flight home.
“After I left, my husband freaked out and called me countless times. He said I was being unreasonable and ungrateful, even accusing me of making him look bad in front of his family, despite him begging me to come along on the trip. When he returned home, he wouldn’t even talk to me and just ignored me. To make matters worse, his family indirectly criticized me on Facebook for leaving.”
It’s unfortunate that this young woman had to face such humiliation and exclusion from her in-laws. No one deserves to be treated this way. It’s important for families to value and respect each other despite differences in backgrounds or financial situations.
