I, in my sixties, live an ordinary retirement life, get along with my children and grandchildren, and live a safe life. However, an unexpected event shattered the tranquility.
That night, the whole family sat around the table, and the fun of my usual chef piqued my curiosity. I couldn't resist asking my daughter-in-law how to make that dish, but she turned a deaf ear and just talked to my son.
I was embarrassed, but I didn't want to get angry in front of them. However, she suddenly yelled at me, "You old thing, what are you talking about, get out!".I was momentarily stunned, my heart filled with anger and sadness.
I don't understand why she would reprimand me so rudely
At home, I confided in my son about the injustices he had suffered at the dinner. When the son heard this, he was furious and immediately contacted his daughter-in-law, but he did not get a satisfactory answer.
He tried to solve the problem through his daughter-in-law's parents, but the result was still unsatisfactory, and I was deeply disappointed.
This experience taught me that the bonds between family members are quite fragile. I felt lonely and helpless. I thought I was a beloved elder in my family, but now I realize that it was just scratching the surface.
This experience made me question my life and also develop a distrust of my daughter-in-law.
This sudden change made me have more doubts in my later life. I began to wonder if the family was as harmonious as I had hoped.
This kind of doubt makes me feel tormented and confused. I'm not sure how my family's situation will change after this incident, or whether I should continue to hold on to it.
These unknowns leave me feeling deeply lost.
Soon after, something happened again in my home that made me feel very painful. I had expected that with my son's assistance, the incident would be resolved perfectly, but in reality things did not get any better.
Every time my daughter-in-law came to the house, she was indifferent to me and even deliberately avoided my gaze, which made me feel very embarrassed and painful.
During this time, my mood was always at a low point. Witnessing my gradual decline in mood, my children were also deeply anxious. Our interaction is decreasing, replaced by more silence and strife.
My child also began to distance himself from me, he often came home late and was reluctant to share with me the trivial things of daily life. It was very painful for me, and gradually I began to feel that I had been forgotten by this family.
I began to fall into a deep silence and was no longer as proactive in communicating with my family as I used to. My heart was filled with confusion and helplessness, and I wondered why a family that was once harmonious and happy could have become like this
I began to question my place in the family and also began to doubt whether I was really valuable in the family. The enthusiasm for life is gone, and the love for family is gradually fading.
I was getting older and less willing to communicate with my family. Loss of appetite and sad faces all day long, making the family feel distressed. It all started with an unexpected setback that left me with questions and confusion about this home.
For a long time, I suffered in silence, and my son did not make substantial accusations against my daughter-in-law, I knew nothing about it, and I did not want to express my displeasure to my family again.
I gradually became closed off and my attitude towards my family became cold. Soon after, another conflict broke out in the family. It was supposed to be an ordinary family dinner, but because of his son's work, he came home late, and was loudly reprimanded by his daughter-in-law, and even did it.
I was filled with anger and sadness, but I couldn't stop it from happening because of my health.
I couldn't bear this kind of family environment anymore, and I even considered leaving this place that was so painful for me. I used to think that family was a warm haven, but now it has become a pain in my heart.
This state of affairs has been going on for a long time, and I feel very hopeless. I began to question my life and began to question whether everything I had really made sense.
However, I know that escaping is not the way out. Even though my heart is full of entanglement and powerlessness, I still long to find a trace of sincerity and warmth between my family. This home is supposed to be guarded and maintained by the whole family, and I don't want it to fall apart.
I thought maybe I should be brave enough to try a heartfelt conversation to untie the knots and find the bond between each other to revitalize the family. However, I have no way of knowing what will happen in the future.
Despite my dissatisfaction with my daughter-in-law's behavior, I still try to maintain the family's affection. I took the initiative to have an in-depth exchange with her, hoping to eliminate misunderstandings and regain the harmony and family affection of the past.
However, instead of understanding my intentions, she directly criticized me for being nosy and nagging. This left me feeling very disappointed and frustrated.
In the days that followed, I tried to avoid actively communicating with my daughter-in-law, but the family atmosphere gradually became tense. The son was also involved in the quarrel, and he tried his best to mediate, but it was always difficult to reach a satisfactory result.
It was getting worse and worse, and I began to feel as if I had become a stranger to the family, and even a little isolated.
I began to reflect on whether this discordant family relationship was worth continuing for me. The pain and frustration I experienced in my life made it clearer to me that there is no solution to family conflicts.
Now, I am just an elder who is troubled by family problems, and my heart is full of entanglements and struggles. Family conflicts made me feel more lonely and helpless in my later life, but I didn't know whether I should give up this family relationship.
Perhaps it was one of the trickiest choices I made in my later years.