I’m Mariko, in my 40s, and I live with my husband, Takayoshi, also in his 40s, and our eighth-grade daughter, Sari. Both of our parents live nearby, but my mother-in-law, Sanae (in her 70s), and I do not get along. Lately, my daughter’s attitude and language have only gone from bad to worse with her rebellious phase. To top it off, even though my husband and daughter know damn well I hate dogs, they forced one into our lives anyway and dumped all the pet care right on me. When I took refuge at my parents’ house and explained the situation to my dad, Hiroshi, and my mom, Rie (both in their 70s), they were completely appalled by how my husband and daughter were acting. Although I dreaded going back, I had to return home for work, only to find the house in a state of absolute disaster that completely defied my worst expectations.
When I returned home for work, the house was in such a horrific state that the overwhelming stench of dog waste literally made me want to barf. On top of that, the dog had been left to roam free, and there was poop smeared all over everything—from the food bowls to my husband’s favorite tie. My husband and daughter, who had completely neglected both the cleaning and the dog, immediately started attacking me the second they realized I hadn’t cleaned up after them. They actually had the nerve to say, “Puri-chan is only acting up because Mom ignores her,” and even called me “abusive.” Unable to stomach the absolute nightmare our house had become, I packed my bags and headed right back to my parents’ house. I fully intend to stay away from my husband, my daughter, and that dog for quite a while.