Photo not related to article. [Getty Images Bank]
Photo not related to article. [Getty Images Bank]

A mother-in-law has opened up about her conflicted feelings after her daughter-in-law, who had spent years preparing food every holiday, said she was worn out and would not be coming this time.

The story was shared recently on Threads under the title "My son says they won't be coming for the holiday this year."

The author, identified only as A, wrote that her daughter-in-law said she was spent and wanted to rest at home alone with her husband. A said her first reaction was to push back, telling her son, "It's a holiday — you should at least come and show your face."

Her son paused for a long moment before replying, "Mom, we'd really like the holidays to be a little easier for us too." A said she had nothing more to say after hearing that.

"When I think about it, every holiday she came over and spent the whole time cooking and cleaning — she never got to rest," A wrote, reflecting on what her daughter-in-law had gone through. She said she understood her daughter-in-law's position, but still felt a hollow ache at the thought of the couple not coming.

"When it comes down to it, thinking about the two of them not being here on the holiday, the house is going to feel so empty," she wrote. "I don't know whether I should ask them to come or just let it go this time."

Most readers who saw the post sided with the son and his wife. "Just let them rest — if you don't want them fighting," one commenter wrote.

Another said they could not understand why family visits had to happen specifically on a holiday, noting that unlike in the past, people can meet whenever they want. One commenter said that after marriage, "I've come to really dread the holidays," pointing to the reality that the burden of household chores during the holiday season falls disproportionately on daughters-in-law.


choigo@heraldcorp.com