I’ve always had a rocky relationship with my mother-in-law, Laura, but what she did recently was beyond absurd. Laura thinks she knows everything and always insists on giving her opinion, even when it’s unwelcome. She also believes she’s the best mother, though my husband, Edward, and his brother Michael would disagree, as they had a difficult childhood.

For our second wedding anniversary, Edward and I hosted a small party, and Laura surprised me by behaving nicely—for once. After the party, she handed me an envelope, saying it was a gift just for me. But when I opened it, I found an itemized bill for all the “expenses” she claimed to have incurred while raising Edward—totaling $50,000!

At first, Edward brushed it off as a joke, but I knew she was serious. Furious, I decided to teach her a lesson. I created my own bill, listing all the emotional costs of dealing with her over the past two years, including therapy sessions and enduring her insults. I even added a line for “emotional support” with a price tag of “priceless.”

I mailed it to her, and since then, Laura has been unusually quiet. She didn’t argue or confront me, which feels like a small victory. It seems she finally realized she’s not always right.

Standing up for myself—and for Edward—felt empowering, and I’m glad I did it. I hope, in some way, it also made up for the love and care Edward never received growing up.

Do you think I handled it well?

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