My Daughter's Mother-in-Law Made a Pass at My Husband. I'm Being Punished for Responding.

"Last year, my daughter married a wonderful man, "Jeff." The trouble is that Jeff's mother, "Lynn," is an insufferable woman. At the wedding, she got plastered and made a pass at my husband. Not just a pass-she came up behind him, grabbed his ass, and told him she could satisfy him a thousand times better than I could! I lost my cool and slugged her."

"She wasn't seriously injured, but ever since then, my daughter and son-in-law have refused to have us in the same place. Ordinarily, we'd all gather for the holidays. This year, they've said they'll spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Lynn and her husband, and next year they'll spend the holidays with us. From then on, they plan to alternate. I would (grudgingly) be willing to give Lynn another chance"

"I know how hard it is to be away from your daughter at the holidays, but it sounds like she and your son-in-law have come up with the best possible solution for all parties. They know Lynn better than you do, and they may be confident that she is incapable of behaving herself. You would think that someone who did what she did to you and your husband would come in humbly and apologetic, but that's probably not how Lynn rolls."

At a wedding, the daughter's mother-in-law, Lynn, became intoxicated, grabbed the husband's butt, and told him she could satisfy him better than his wife. The mother of the bride struck Lynn in response, and although Lynn was not seriously injured, the daughter and son-in-law have refused to have them in the same place. They will spend this holiday with Lynn, spend the next with the writer, and thereafter alternate holidays. The writer would be willing to give Lynn another chance if she remains sober and refrains from touching the husband, but the daughter refuses to reconcile. The couple's arrangement reflects concern about Lynn's behavior and a decision to protect boundaries and avoid further harassment.

Read at Slate Magazine