When my son first married, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. His choice of a partner raised a lot of doubts in me. From the start, I had my reservations.
The First Impressions
His new wife, a simple village girl without higher education, didn’t seem to have much to offer my son. I would get annoyed by her speech—she often mixed up words and spoke in a way that felt too simple and unrefined. I couldn’t understand why he chose her over someone who seemed a better match, like our neighbor, an intelligent, educated accountant with a good job. I thought my son would soon realize his mistake.
A Change of Heart in the Hospital
However, everything changed when I found myself in the hospital with severe food poisoning. It was a tough time for me—weak and in need of care. What I never expected was that, despite my coldness toward her, it was my daughter-in-law who rushed to my side. She stayed with me, took care of me, brought me food, and helped when the nurses were busy. I had been so harsh with her in the past, yet here she was, taking care of me without hesitation.
That’s when the guilt hit me. I had only ever focused on her flaws and never saw the real beauty of her kindness, sincerity, and huge heart.
A New Perspective
After being discharged from the hospital, I began to see her in a new light. I noticed how my son had changed as well. He had always been a carefree, party-loving guy who never thought about the future. But once he married her, he got serious. He found a stable job, bought a car, and even purchased a home. I could see that her influence on him had been transformative.
The True Value of Love
Time passed, and they had a child, then another. Throughout it all, my daughter-in-law continued to care for their family, never complaining or asking for anything in return. Even during her pregnancies, she remained strong, managing work, household duties, and being kind and attentive.
One day, while visiting them, I heard a familiar voice:
“Mom, where’s the salt?”
I smiled warmly and replied, “It’s on the table, dear.”
That moment made me reflect on everything I had said about her in the past. I felt a deep sense of regret. How wrong I had been about her…
This journey of realizing the true value of my daughter-in-law has taught me so much about family, love, and the growth that can come from seeing others with new eyes.