“Svetlana Petrovna, I earn money for myself, and I decide how it is spent!” the daughter-in-law said firmly.
Anastasia pushed the curtain aside and stretched. After three months of interviews, she had finally landed a job at a large IT company. It offered remote work, flexible hours, and a salary she had previously only dreamed of.
“Dima!” Anastasia rushed into the hallway. “I got the job!”
Dmitry wrapped his arms around his wife.
“I told you that you could do it! Our lives are going to change now.”
A month later, her first salary arrived in her bank account. Anastasia could hardly believe her happiness. She could finally afford high-quality cosmetics and elegant clothes for online meetings. Even though she worked remotely, the IT company expected its employees to maintain a polished and professional appearance.
On Sunday, as usual, they went to have dinner with Dmitry’s parents. Svetlana Petrovna greeted them at the door and immediately gave her daughter-in-law a sharp, assessing look.
“Nastenka, those are interesting earrings,” her mother-in-law said, narrowing her eyes. “Are they new? And is that a new dress too? I see you’ve started shopping quite often.”
During dinner, Svetlana Petrovna casually remarked:
“My neighbor Vera was telling me about her daughter-in-law. That girl brings every last penny home and hardly spends anything on herself. But young people these days think only about wasting money on pretty little trinkets.”
When they returned home, Dmitry cautiously brought up the subject.
“Nastya, perhaps you really should be a little more modest. Mom is worried.”
“Dima, I work for a serious company. I need to look professional. Besides, it’s money that I earned.”
“I know, I know. I just don’t want to upset Mom.”
The following week, Svetlana Petrovna invited them over for tea. A woman in a gray sweater was already sitting there. It was “Lenochka, the daughter-in-law of a friend,” whom Svetlana Petrovna presented as the perfect example of thriftiness.
“Lenochka is simply wonderful,” Svetlana Petrovna said as she poured the tea. “She saves all her money for her future children’s education. She never wastes it on fashionable clothes. And you, Nastenka, are still buying new outfits?”
“I need to look presentable for work,” Anastasia replied.
“For work? You sit at home in front of a computer. Who even sees you?” her mother-in-law exclaimed, throwing up her hands. “In our time, women thought about their families, not clothes. Dima, why are you keeping quiet? Are you really happy that your wife spends all her money on herself?”
Dmitry shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“Mom, come on. Nastya earns good money. She can afford it.”
“So I’m worrying for nothing?” Svetlana Petrovna set her cup down with a loud thud. “Mark my words, this will not end well.”
Anastasia rose from the table.
“We should go.”
The next day, her mother-in-law’s call woke Anastasia in the middle of an important video conference. She had to postpone the meeting and drive over.
Aunt Vera and her husband were already seated in the living room. A pie sat in the center of the table, a sure sign that a serious conversation was about to take place.
“We discussed the matter with the family,” Svetlana Petrovna began, taking out a thick notebook. “And we decided that it’s time to put your finances in order. Since you’re earning so well now, the money needs to be managed properly. In our family, we have always helped one another. So you should contribute part of your salary to our shared needs.”
“What shared needs?” Anastasia asked through clenched teeth.
“Well, isn’t it obvious?” Aunt Vera joined in. “Svetlana Petrovna has needed to renovate her home for a long time. And Kolya and I could use a newer car.”
“Don’t interrupt, son,” Svetlana Petrovna cut Dmitry off before he could speak. “I’m thinking about your future. Instead of wasting money on trinkets, you should focus on serious things.”
“Such as?” Anastasia’s voice had turned cold and hard.
“You need to save for a larger apartment,” her mother-in-law said, turning a page in the notebook. “I’ve calculated everything. If Nastya contributes half of her salary to the shared family budget…”
The pencil in Anastasia’s hand snapped.
“What? Half of my salary?” She jumped to her feet.
“Nastya, don’t get angry,” Dmitry said, taking her hand. “Let’s find a compromise.”
“A compromise?” Anastasia pulled her hand away. “Do you honestly think it’s normal for your mother to try to control my money?”
“There!” Svetlana Petrovna exclaimed triumphantly. “I told you those new clothes would lead to trouble. Now she’s already talking back to her husband!”
Anastasia slowly straightened. A sharp, ringing silence filled the room.
“You know what, Svetlana Petrovna?” Every word fell from Anastasia’s lips like a stone. “I earn money for myself, and I decide how it is spent!”
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
“Get out of my house,” her mother-in-law said, pointing toward the door with a trembling hand. “You ungrateful woman.”
For the entire following week, the phone remained silent. Dmitry became gloomier with each passing day.
“Maybe you should apologize,” he finally said. “Mom is beside herself.”
“Apologize for what? For daring to make decisions about my own money?”
After yet another conversation with his mother, Dmitry returned to the room looking lost.
“Mom says you’ve become completely uncontrollable. She wants me to take action. Can you imagine?”
“Dima,” Anastasia said, taking her husband’s hand, “I work twelve hours a day. I’m an adult who is capable of making decisions, especially when those decisions concern my own money.”
“I know. It’s just difficult for Mom to accept.”
Two weeks later, a message arrived from Svetlana Petrovna.
“Could we meet at a café and talk?”
At the cozy café, Svetlana Petrovna looked unusually uncertain.
“I’ve been thinking,” she began. “Perhaps I really did get a little carried away. I’m simply worried about both of you. Things were different in our time. We lived as one family and made every decision together.”
“Times have changed,” Anastasia said gently. “Everyone has their own path now.”
“Yes,” Svetlana Petrovna sighed. “I suppose that is difficult for me to accept. But I’m trying to understand.”
Dmitry smiled.
“Mom, we’re doing fine. We just need to respect one another’s boundaries.”
“So I should give advice only when someone asks for it?” Svetlana Petrovna smiled for the first time that evening. “That won’t be easy.”
The following Sunday, the family gathered for lunch again. There was still some tension in the air, but it was no longer as heavy as before.
On the way home, Dmitry pulled his wife closer.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being strong, and for teaching me to be strong too. I used to spend all my time trying to please everyone. Now I understand that sometimes you have to stand up for your own boundaries.”
A month later, Svetlana Petrovna called her daughter-in-law.
“Nastenka, I need to ask you a favor. Could you help me with my computer?”
“Of course,” Anastasia said with a smile. “I’ll come over tomorrow after work.”
Over tea and pie, they talked about Anastasia’s job and new technology.
“You know,” her mother-in-law suddenly said, “I’m actually proud of you, even though I don’t always show it. You have achieved a great deal through your own hard work. That deserves respect, even if I don’t understand everything you do.”
Tears appeared in Anastasia’s eyes.
“Now, now. You can’t cry while wearing a new blouse,” Svetlana Petrovna said softly, patting her hand. “By the way, it’s very beautiful. That color suits you.”
On her way home, Anastasia thought about how strangely life could unfold. Perhaps sometimes all it took was enough courage to defend your boundaries before you could build a truly healthy relationship.