Woman Tells Daughter-in-Law She Needs to ‘Dress Like a Wife'
Despite adjusting her wardrobe repeatedly, nothing satisfied her mother-in-law, leading to a humiliating confrontation in front of her husband
Her husband's silence left her feeling betrayed, isolated, and unsure if she was in the wrongA woman is at odds with her husband and mother-in-law after a tense standoff over her wardrobe.
'It started a few weeks ago when we moved into my husband's childhood home temporarily while we sort stuff out,' she began her post.
She admitted that she 'didn't want to," but "rents high" in her area, and "savings were tight,' so she and her husband, both in their 20s, thought it would only be for a short while.
From the start, she tried to be the model houseguest, determined to make the best of an uncomfortable arrangement.
'At first, I tried to be polite. Friendly even. I made small talk. Helped clean up after dinner. Smiled even when I didn't want to,' she recalled, hoping her efforts would help her fit in and keep the peace in her husband's family home.
But her efforts were quickly overshadowed by a series of pointed comments from her mother-in-law, who has strong opinions about what a 'wife' should look like, even at home.
'You really like wearing that around the house?' her mother-in-law would ask, making the young woman feel self-conscious in her own space. Another time, she quipped, 'Did you forget we have men in this house?'
While her mother-in-law's remarks are 'quiet enough to sound innocent," the poster noted that they're "loud enough to sting.'
Despite her mother-in-law's critiques, she insisted her clothes are nothing out of the ordinary — just 'shorts and a loose shirt' because 'it's hot' and she wants to be comfortable.
'I'm comfy. I'm not flashing anyone. There's nothing inappropriate,' she clarified.
Yet, no matter how she tried to adapt, switching to 'leggings, tank tops, even just a long shirt,' her mother-in-law was never satisfied.
'No matter what I wore, it was never 'respectful' enough for her,' she explained in the since-deleted post, frustration building as she described the impossible standards she's being held to.
The situation escalated when her mother-in-law confronted her directly, telling her in front of her husband that her clothes were 'embarrassing the family.' At first, she laughed, thinking it must be a joke, but quickly realized her mother-in-law was completely serious.
The comments didn't stop there, as her mother-in-law said she "should try dressing like a wife, not a... well, never mind.'
Finally, feeling pushed to her limit, the poster stood up for herself. 'This is my body. I'm in my home. I'm comfortable and not hurting anyone," she told her mother-in-law. "If you don't like how I dress, I'm sorry."
The room fell silent, and her mother-in-law stood up, looked at her husband, and said, 'See? This is what you married.'
What hurt most was her husband's reaction, or rather, his lack of one. 'He didn't say a word. Just sat there. Avoided eye contact. Acted like this wasn't his circus,' she remembered, feeling isolated and unsupported in the moment she needed him most.
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Later that night, he told her she should 'just try to get along' with his 'old-fashioned' mother, insisting that the poster should be more 'understanding.'
The conversation left her feeling even more alone, as if she were the one causing problems just by existing. 'She's literally policing what I wear like I'm 13 and grounded,' she wrote, describing how her husband acts as if she's the one stirring up drama.
'I've spent weeks biting my tongue. And now everyone's treating me like I'm the problem. Like I disrespected her," she continued.
Despite her patience, civility, and willingness to compromise, she's left second-guessing herself. 'Now I feel like maybe I was too blunt. Or maybe too emotional. I don't know. I'm stuck in this house where I can't even be myself,' she confessed, asking the Reddit community for insight.
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