Two years ago, I married Zhenya, and our relationship began with a deep connection, but also an awareness of challenges ahead. When I first met his family, I was introduced to his father, Sergey Ivanovich, a man of humble nature despite his significant wealth from his successful auto parts company. He always treated me with respect, and I admired his down-to-earth manner. His wife, however, was a different story. Marina Gennadievna, Zhenya’s mother, didn’t quite view me as her equal. She often made me feel like I was inferior because I came from a modest background.
Growing up in a village, my parents worked hard to provide for me. My father was an agronomist, and my mother a school teacher. We had a simple life, but it was full of love, and they sacrificed a lot to ensure I could go to university. I didn’t come from money, and my achievements were based on hard work. Zhenya, on the other hand, had been raised with wealth. By the age of twenty-six, he already owned a luxury car and a spacious apartment, which he earned through his own efforts. Despite our differences in background, Zhenya saw me for who I was—modest, hardworking, and real. He didn’t care about the money; he cared about the person I was.
We met by chance while standing in line for ice cream. We quickly became friends, and soon enough, we were spending more time together. One day, Zhenya invited me to dinner at a nice restaurant, and I was nervous. I had little money and had to work extra shifts to support myself and send money back to my parents. When I saw the prices on the menu, I wanted to suggest going somewhere else, but Zhenya insisted on paying. He reassured me, saying, “Order what you like, I’ve invited you, and I’ll cover it all.”
Six months later, he proposed, and even though I was worried about how his mother would react, Zhenya encouraged me to follow my heart. I was marrying him, not his family, and he promised that his love for me mattered more than anything.
We had a modest wedding, just the two of us and Zhenya’s father. Marina Gennadievna didn’t attend, and later I found out she had begged Zhenya to reconsider, trying to convince him to not marry me. But Zhenya stood by his decision, and I became his wife.
When we moved into Zhenya’s apartment, it was sparsely furnished. But I quickly made it into a home. I bought new furniture, arranged things to make the place cozy, and started planning a future. My husband was thrilled with the transformation, often praising my ability to create a comfortable, beautiful home.
Despite my efforts, my mother-in-law rarely visited, and when she did, her comments were often cutting and dismissive. She didn’t approve of my taste in interior design, like when she criticized my choice of cornflower curtains. But I didn’t let it bother me much; I knew I was building a life with Zhenya, and his support meant the world to me.
Though I had graduated from university, finding a job was a struggle. I didn’t want to rely on Zhenya’s money and sought work, but every opportunity seemed to slip away. This made me feel even more worthless in my mother-in-law’s eyes. I couldn’t help but feel the weight of her judgments, but Zhenya and my mother always supported me.
One evening, Zhenya suggested I consider turning my passion for sewing into a business. I had been making clothes for myself, and he encouraged me to take the leap. I thought about it and decided to create a small online store where I could sell my embroidered dresses. I bought fabric, learned more about dyeing, and started creating unique designs. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and soon I hired assistants to help with the increasing demand.
Six months later, we rented an atelier, and I had a team of women working with me. Zhenya’s pride in my success was apparent, and Sergey Ivanovich often boasted about my work to others. The business grew, and I was finally able to prove to my mother-in-law that I wasn’t just a housewife but a successful businesswoman. I had created something of my own, and that felt empowering.
When Zhenya and I welcomed our son, Matveyka, into the world, our joy was immeasurable. He was a bright, energetic child who brought even more warmth to our home. The love we shared as a family was enough to make all the struggles worthwhile.
The simple things in life—love, support, and family—are what truly matter, and I’ve learned to cherish them every day.