My daughter’s husband is nothing but a troublemaker. Recently, my son-in-law lost yet another job, all because he couldn’t stop chasing what he called “justice.” My daughter stubbornly defends him, insisting it’s just his nature.
That man is a storm in a teacup. He’ll wind up anyone over the slightest thing—like insisting a shopkeeper short-changed him a few pence, then wasting hours arguing about it. His explosive temper and nitpicking nature mean no employer wants to keep him around. Five jobs in a year! Oddly, my daughter always takes his side, claiming it’s just how he is. But to me, he’s petty and insufferable.
Two years have now passed since their wedding. I disliked him from the start—always grumbling, picking at every word, taking offence where none was meant, and blowing tiny issues into full-blown rows. He twists every little thing into a violation of his rights and never stops complaining. Even speaking to him is exhausting.
I tried pointing this out to my daughter, but she brushed me off. She’s her own woman, so I decided to let her live her life. I hoped he’d behave differently at home, but no such luck. Constant whinging, arguments, endless fault-finding. He even rang me once to moan about my own daughter! I held my tongue until I finally snapped and told him to stop. Now, he won’t speak to me—too offended.
The worst part? His attitude means he can’t hold down a job. A couple of months in, his employers see what he’s really like and sack him.
Each time, he lives off my daughter for weeks while searching for new work. She doesn’t earn much, yet shoulders rent, food, and saving for their holidays. Recently, she started borrowing from us. Of course, we’d never demand repayment from our own flesh and blood—but it’s getting dire.
How many times must I tell her to take off the rose-tinted glasses and see him for what he is?
“Mum, he’s not argumentative—it’s just his character,” she insists. “No one likes being cheated, but most stay quiet. He stands up for himself.”
Then came his latest dismissal. His manager asked him to finish a report before leaving. He refused, demanding an official document guaranteeing overtime pay. Signing that would’ve taken longer than the work itself! His boss finished the report in silence and suggested he resign—or face being fired. Naturally, he chose resignation.
I nearly died of shame when I found out. My husband had pulled strings to get him that job, all because my daughter begged us. Now she’s angry, convinced we could’ve saved him. Neither speaks to us anymore, though the fault lies with him—the man wrecking their marriage and our bond with her.
Sometimes, love blinds us to the truth. But when loyalty becomes denial, even the strongest ties can fray.