My FIL (68M) has always made nasty little “jokes” at my MIL’s expense. At their house, I usually kept my mouth shut, thinking it wasn’t my place to step in. But last night, at our house, he crossed a line.
We were all sitting down to dinner, my kids (10F, 7M) were right there at the table, when my FIL smirked and called my MIL (65F) “useless,” then said, “She’s more trouble than she’s worth… always in the way.”
I shoved my chair back, ready to say something, but before I could, my MIL looked him dead in the eye and said, “Say that again, and I’ll tell them what you did in 1998.” Everyone went quiet.
My FIL didn’t back down. He muttered, “You wouldn’t dare.” That’s when my MIL calmly said he had cheated on her with her best friend while she was pregnant with their youngest child.
On top of that, he drained part of their savings to “help” this woman, leaving my MIL to secretly take out a loan to keep the household afloat for almost a year.
My husband (38M) was stunned. He just sat there, staring at his mom, then his dad. I quickly told the kids to go play in the living room before things got worse.
What shook me most was my FIL’s reaction. He didn’t deny it. He just stood up, muttered something under his breath, grabbed his coat, and left. No apology. No explanation. Nothing.
My MIL sat at the table, tears running down her face, but she also looked kinda lighter, if you know what I mean. She told us she had been carrying that secret for decades and wasn’t going to let him humiliate her in front of her grandchildren.
After they left, my husband admitted he’d always had suspicions, but never knew the truth. Now he’s furious, but at the same time torn, saying, “He’s still my dad.” He doesn’t know whether to go low-contact, no-contact, or just keep the peace.
I’m protective of my MIL and furious on her behalf, but I also don’t want my kids around someone who thinks it’s okay to call their grandmother “trash” at the dinner table.
Would it be wrong if I told my husband I don’t ever want his dad in our house again?
Source: brightside.me