I have been married for 10 years, we have three children. She married for love, and everything happened quite quickly. At first it seemed that everything would be perfect. But from the very beginning it turned out that the mother-in-law decides absolutely everything, including the question of when and how many children we should have.

She disposed of my salary from the first day. When we only got married, the mother-in-law insisted that “in a normal family, capital should be in the hands of the elders.” Even to buy elementary things for myself or children, I have to ask her permission. All important decisions are not about me and my husband, but about her. She controls absolutely everything — from the budget to children’s education.

Humiliation became the norm for me. My husband humiliates me in front of his mother at any opportunity. He does this to show her how good he is in her eyes. He got the impression that only her opinion and approval were important to him. I can say with confidence that he does not love me or our children the way he loves his mother.

He spends all his time with her, pays attention only to her, gives her gifts, is interested in her health and spends all holidays with her. А я и дети — as if on the second plan. Only what is important to his mother is important.

My parents live abroad, and I won’t be able to visit them in the near future. My sister and brother are also in another country. Sometimes I just want to leave, throw everything. But how can I manage alone with three children? I have been under this oppressive shadow for so many years that I can no longer imagine how to start a new life.