Living Apart After 8 Years: A Daughter-in-Law’s Struggle with Homesickness

Making the decision to live separately wasn’t easy for me. There were many worries as I prepared to leave the home I had lived in for eight years.

After eight years of living with my in-laws, my husband and I decided to move out. We wanted our children to be closer to the city to attend well-known schools, and the move would make commuting to work more convenient. However, it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

During those eight years, I was well cared for by my mother-in-law. Every morning, she woke up early to prepare meals, take care of the grandchildren, and always kept an eye on my health. Whenever I was sick or tired, she was the first person to be there, preparing nutritious food and comforting me.

My mother-in-law wasn’t just a mother; she was a friend who always listened and shared everything with me in life.

Once we moved out, I immediately began to feel the absence of my mother-in-law. Instead of having her at home cooking and waiting for us, I now had to jump into the kitchen after work.

When my child was sick, I had to manage everything by myself, without her help. Sometimes, I felt so weak, unable to take care of myself and my family as well as my mother-in-law had done.

The feeling of missing her grew stronger, especially during quiet nights when everyone had gone to bed. I would often sit alone in the room, thinking about the warm moments spent with her. I missed the times when we cooked together, cleaned together, and took care of the family.

Having lost my mother at a young age, I had always felt like something was missing. When I went to live with my husband’s family, my mother-in-law filled the void, giving me the love I had longed for. But even with that, small disagreements made me selfishly want to live separately.

Now, when I think back, tears often fill my eyes, and my heart aches with longing and regret. I blame myself for hastily deciding to move out without fully understanding the challenges and loss it would bring.

The meals no longer taste the same, my sleep is disturbed, and I feel weighed down with sorrow. Though my husband tries to encourage and comfort me, he can’t fill the void. The tension and sadness affected my health, and in just two months, I lost 5 kg.

There were nights when I dreamed of returning to my old home, of meeting my mother-in-law again and chatting with her, laughing as we used to. When I woke up, all I wanted was to run back to her arms, to feel the warmth and peace I had lost.

I talked to my husband several times about wanting to move back in with my in-laws. At first, he disagreed because he worried that we would lose our privacy and independence. However, when he saw me deteriorating, he began to understand and supported my decision.

In the end, we decided to return to my husband’s parents’ house. The day we came back, when I saw my mother-in-law open her arms to greet us, my heart felt soothed. She was still the same—gentle and caring. I hugged her tightly, and tears flowed as I felt like I was truly coming home.

Life returned to how it was before, and I felt stronger and more energized. The longing and struggles of the past few months made me realize the value of family and love.

I promised myself that I would cherish and preserve what I have now, so I would never have to feel regretful and lonely like I did before.