MANILA, Philippines ? Dear Emily,
I am in my 30s, a college graduate and now a stay-at-home mom. I had a very lucrative business years ago but was victimized by an investment scam.
That was when I discovered who my real friends were, relatives included.
My mother-in-law became so mean to us when we could not give her money anymore though she had children who were based abroad.
It was always about the money. She wanted us to leave their Manila home?where we stayed?even if we were the only ones left in the main house.
She stays in the province and goes to Manila for her checkup. My sister-in-law lives in the other side of the house. She hates my husband for no reason whatsoever. They are not on speaking terms. I tried real hard to please her but she already made up her mind that she did not like me.
Mother and daughter even talk behind my back. I?ve learned about it from my helpers.
Months ago my helpers told me that mother-in-law?s maid was having an affair with my sister-in-law?s husband. The helper sleeps with the guy when sis-in-law brings her kid to school early in the morning.
Apparently, sis-in-law is so mean to her husband and she is now the butt of jokes among the helpers. Mom-in-law?s maid is now pregnant, though she says the child is her boyfriend?s who stays in the province and seldom comes to the city.
I know the culprit is sis-in-law?s husband. Do I tell my mean mom- and sis-in-law about this?
Oh well, I just want to get even with the two witches in my life...
ELAIN
Meeeowwww..... grrrrrr!!! More like a cat fight you are having with your in-laws!
I cannot blame you for feeling wicked toward those two Bs. Whose imagination will not run wild with vengeance just to get even with them?
Perfectly understandable that quite often you have no recourse but to imagine doing an eye-for-an-eye with such oppressive people?though you might feel this ?concern? for them.
But hold your horses. Playing the good Samaritan might even blow up in your face. Do you honestly think that the mother- and the sister-in-law will appreciate your good intentions? Not when they already have this attitude toward you.
It is going to be a lose-lose situation, however you look at it.
Blood will always be thicker than water and there will be no winners here, no matter what.
Continue playing by your rules. Just sit this one out?and enjoy the view. It is no skin off your nose and therefore none of your business.
They have their problems?you have yours. Amen.
E-mail the author at emarcelo@inquirer.com.ph, Subject: Lifestyle, or send your letters to Inquirer. Log on to www.pbs.gov.ph and listen to Ms Marcelo co-host the program ?Kalikasan Vigilante,? 7:15-8:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, on dwBR 104.3 FM.
