"Relax, it's just my mum" my then fiance, now hubby said to me on our way to visit his mum for the very first time, he was very excited about this meeting, as it was all written over him, but here I was feeling tensed about being introduced to my future mother-in-law whom I have heard so much about from his mummy boy of a son, I can't help but think if she was nice as he said after all no one would want to say anything bad about one's mother, would she like me? Would we get along well? Or will she end up being one of the stereotyped wicked mother in Inlaw often portrayed in our Nollywood movies?
These were the thoughts running through my head, and it was evident in my worried facial expression and uneasy body movement, even hubby's warm embrace did little to calm me, you won't blame me, growing up, I hardly ever heard good things said about mothers-in-law, it was always about their wicked nature and wanting to control their son's home, which always led to fighting between them and their daughter in laws, to make it worst, most bride wished their mother in law was dead before they get married, God forbid! I quickly rejected that thought, all I knew was that I was excited and worried at the same time, I have crossed many states and stayed on the road for 11 hours just for this very moment, I just hoped and prayed it would work just fine for us.
As we drove into her compound in the early hours of the morning, there she was all dressed and eagerly waiting at the entrance like a child waiting for her dad to return from work, she hurriedly open my side door, I wasn't even half way out of the car yet when she envelopes me in the warmest embrace I have ever had, you are even more beautiful than the pictures, she said out loud, as I smile shyly, her next action surprised me further, she started dancing, holding my hands to dance with her as she sings a song in our local dialect, my shy self couldn't help but try to catch up her steps, as I sent a questioning look to hubby, there he was laughing and smirking so hard at me, I didn't even realized that all the tension I felt all through the journey to my mother in law residence had all been completely erased, I felt at home, her kindness, motherly nature, love, care and of course her extroverted abd funny personality was all a perfect blend to this great personality God blessed me with, finding another mother through marriage.
You are the first daughter I never had, she always says, being a mum of two sons, I guess she has been praying for this day to come, even more than myself, people change, but my mother-in-law has remained the same sweet mother, she advises me like a mum would do her child, and never fails to correct me with love, "who's mother are you again, she or me?" My hubby asked one day after she took my side on an issue we had then, lol, you are both my children, she replied to him, and I will always choose the right side, Hubby got the message, not to mess with mum's favorite daughter.
I wish all mother and daughter-in-law relationships were just like mine, and we never get to see or hear it the other way around, above all, I'm grateful for the opportunity to have this relationship with my second mum.
This post is inspired by the #octoberinleo monthly prompt, day 26, check out Leogrowth's thread and be inspired
Image 1 is edited and gotten from canva, Image 2 is mine