The Mother-in-Law

by Sally Hepworth

I think about all my conversations with Jan and Liz and Kathy about daughters-in-law. We’d always focused on how different they are from us, how their mothering is different, their attitudes are different. We’ve never once focused on our similarities. As women. As wives. As mothers. It occurs to me suddenly that there are a lot more of them.

He rests his chin in his hand, taking it all in and he reminds me so much of Tom, I find it impossible to believe they weren’t biologically related. We live on, I realize. We live on through our children.

Sons see the best parts of you, but daughters really see you. They see your flaws and your weaknesses. They see everything they don’t want to be. They see you for exactly who you are … and they hate you for it.

Everyone, no matter how old they are, wants their mother’s approval.