My mother-in-law is sick, my husband isn’t helping, I’m at my limit. What should I do?translated

Reader question:

Hello. We live: husband, me and child. My husband's parents moved in with us - my mother got cancer and is being treated in our city. He doesn’t want to leave: he wants me to look after and cook. I am tired both physically and emotionally, there is no time left for the child: only cleaning, caring, cooking. If I leave, they won’t even warm up their food, they complain that they are hungry. It has always been difficult for me to live with someone. I was treated by a psychotherapist for anxiety and depression, stopped taking pills - anxiety again, my health was failing. I feel like I have lost my family and myself, I only serve my husband’s parents. I want to escape. Should I care for them 24/7 to the detriment of myself and my family? How can I talk to my husband about wanting his parents to live separately? The husband finds excuses not to help. We argue often. Should I, even reluctantly, do everything for his parents, or should my husband help? Is it important that our family - my husband, me and my son - live together?

Ksenia

Priest's answer:

Archpriest Andrey EFANOV

Dear Ksenia, I sympathize with you!

It’s hard when the usual rhythm of life changes and you have to adapt to new conditions. But this usually always happens sooner or later for one reason or another...