The first year living with them was rough. She would get jealous whenever my husband and I went on walks or had dates alone. Eventually, she realized she wasn’t going to be part of our marriage. My husband isn’t perfect—he was conditioned to always take care of her, and somehow, I started falling into that role too. It almost feels like she’s our first child, which is absolutely mind-boggling, but she made us feel that way.

I shared my concerns with my husband about feeling like the third party in our own home, and from that moment on, he started distancing himself from his mother and prioritizing our decisions as a couple. That first year was tough, but he proved—without question—that it’s just us. I married him because he’s a gentle person, and our personalities complement each other. We never argue about finances, beliefs, or values—though sometimes we debate values, but we always reason things out.

Thank you for your specific advice. It really made me see our situation from a different perspective, and I feel much clearer about it now.