Mel and her mother-in-law, Laura, had always had a rocky relationship. Laura was known for her condescending attitude and her tendency to act as if she knew everything. Her husband, Edward, and his brother, Michael, were her pride and joy, and she often boasted about their accomplishments.
However, Edward had revealed to Mel that his childhood was far from perfect. Laura’s parenting skills had left emotional scars, and Edward and his brother had grown up feeling traumatized. Despite this, Mel had tried to maintain a cordial relationship with Laura, but things took a turn for the worse on their second anniversary.
Laura had arrived at the party, handed Mel an envelope, and asked her to open it later. Mel was surprised, thinking it was a gift. But when she opened the envelope, she was shocked to find an invoice from Laura, detailing all the expenses she had incurred while raising Edward. The list included items such as diapers, school supplies, and college tuition, as well as a charge for “emotional support” and “nurturing a loving son.”
Mel was taken aback by the invoice, but she didn’t let it get to her. Instead, she decided to respond with a clever move. When Laura’s birthday came around, Mel presented her with a gift – an invoice of her own. The list included items such as “listening to her criticize my cooking” and “teaching her son what a normal family looks like.”
Laura was furious, and she never spoke to Mel and Edward again. But Mel didn’t regret her decision. She had stood up for herself and her marriage, and she had shown Laura that she wouldn’t be taken advantage of.
