There were plans for my wedding day to be beautiful, but Vivian, my mother-in-law, had other ideas. When she talked badly about my quiet, pretty mother Evelyn, she called her “ugly.” I just couldn’t stand it.
As I changed my veil, Mom’s happy tears turned into worry about her simple but lovely outfit. Tell her, “You’re perfect.” But Vivian’s mean words would soon stop our party.
At the gathering, Vivian’s snide comment hurt a lot. Mom’s face turned red, but she stayed nice. I tried not to get angry, but later, my cousin Jen told me that Vivian’s insult wasn’t the only one.
Because I was angry, I came up with a plan. I asked the photographer to change Vivian’s shots so they didn’t show her in the best light. I felt guilty while I was waiting for the pictures, though.
When Vivian called, angry about the changed pictures, I claimed I wasn’t guilty. My husband Michael found out about my plan and told me to change my mind. “There were better ways to stand up for your mum.”
When we went to see Mum, she taught us a valuable lesson: “Her words can hurt me only if I let them.” “Being happy is sometimes the best way to get back at someone.”
Regrettably, I saw what I had done wrong. Vivian was called over, and I’m sorry I changed the photos. Vivian admitted she was wrong, and we all decided to start over.
Vivian, my mum, Michael, and I got together for dinner, and that was the start of healing. It was awkward at first, but telling stories and laughing together helped ease the strain over time.
Vivian truly apologised, and I accepted her apology. I felt a weight lift as we went our separate ways. The complicated, messy, and beautiful truth about our family was taking shape.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Michael asked with a smile. I laughed because I knew our road wasn’t perfect, but love and forgiveness made it worth it.
That’s when I realised that being a family isn’t about being perfect; it’s about accepting each other’s flaws and growing as a group. Would I have done something different? Perhaps, but the lesson was worth a lot.
