It was one hell of a ride wasn't it? Well, for me it was.
For more than 10 years I allowed you to talk to me like a peasant. I allowed you to criticize me, I allowed you to give me emotional pain, and I allowed you to have power over me. Why? All because I wanted you to like me, to love me like a daughter but that day never came and now that I am no longer married to your son, you probably never will.
I am still appalled that you hated me so much that you thought it was OK that your younger female friend took interest in your son, my husband. I am still taken aback that you thought it was OK that the two of them carried on with a love affair for five years and you not tell me until days before she moved into the home that your son and I built together. You really did hate me huh? I wasn't ever good enough for your son.
DID YOU KNOW
Did you know that your son never got you your birthday or your Christmas presents? That was me. I went to the store, picked out the perfect gift, brought it home, wrapped it, and shipped it off to you. All your son did was sign the card. It was the same procedure for Mother's Day. The 'All God's Children' figurines that sits in your credenza, yes that was me too.
Did you know I chose you over my own family when it came down to the holidays. Yes, my sister couldn't understand why I always had to spend time with you and not my own family when we would drive down to Florida. Why? Because I just wanted you to accept me.
Did you know that your son's friends pulled me to the side to let me know that it was disrespectful for you to treat me the way that you did. I addressed the situation to your son but of course he came up with an excuse for you.
Did you know that when you would go out to spend time with your son, whether it be an evening stroll or a Sunday brunch, that I made the suggestion for him to take you out? He would have preferred to watch the game or sleep in.
Did you know that while you were out with your son that I would clean your kitchen top to bottom because your refrigerator was growing mold? Yeah, this was around the time you were still recovering from your fall. You're welcome.
Did you know how much your words cut me to the bone when you said to my face that I "was the daughter-in-law from hell?" Do you remember that immediately after you insulted me that I asked if you wanted to get anything from the store because you've been confined to the house for weeks after moving to a town where you knew no one? That was the day you decided to buy The Secret. Is it working for you?
DO YOU KNOW
Do you know how much I think that you're a hypocrite when it comes to your religion? Do you really think it's Godly to have an affair with a married man for more than 25 years? How about the other married man, who turned out to be the father of your son. I guess it's true when they say that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.
Do you know how much it sickens me to see you treat my daughter like she is a second class citizen but turn around and treat my son like he is the king? Where you surprised when I finally put my foot down and said "no more?"
WHY
Why are you so racist toward every race except yours? Why do you think that my Jamaican culture doesn't deserve the respect that your culture does?
RELIEF
Now that I am divorced from your son, you say that I will always be part of your family, but that is my choice not yours. It feels good to be free from you and your slick, sassy, undermining comments. It felt especially good when I respectfully put you in your place when you tried to pass judgement on my friends and my new family. What a sigh of relief.
There's so much more to address but for now I am done.
Have a good life,
Your Daughter-in-law from hell
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