I’m Ayumi, a mom of three kids—third grade, first grade, and preschool—and I live with my husband Kazuma. His parents’ house is about an hour away by car, and we visit now and then for seasonal greetings or family events. My in-laws are kind people, and my kids adore them. But ever since I married into the family, my brother-in-law, Kosuke, has been unbearably arrogant. His behavior often crossed the line, making me deeply uncomfortable. I tried to stay out of his way as much as possible, but when my oldest was about four years old…
Kosuke and his wife always put themselves first. If things don’t go their way, they come up with ridiculous excuses and start a full-blown argument, complaining nonstop until everyone gives in. Every time it happened, my husband and mother-in-law would just say things like, “That’s just how he is,” or “No point arguing, he never backs down.” But honestly, that kind of behavior is nothing short of outrageous.
At some point, I realized there was no point expecting common sense from people who simply don’t have any. That’s when I decided—once and for all—I’d never get involved with them again.