My mother is sleeping with my father-in-law

Dear Pastor,

I am writing to you with tears in my eyes. I am 27 years old and my husband is the same age.

I have a six-month-old child. My husband and I are living at my father-in-law's home. My mother came to stay with me and to assist me with the baby. She has been of great help to me. I am back at work. My mother-in-law is not presently in Jamaica, so my mother cooks for everybody. My father-in-law recently retired and my mother does not work, either. But every week, my husband I pay my mother for assisting us with our child.

I got the shock of my life when I saw how caring my mother is to my father-in-law. I asked her how come she is so concerned about him. She asked me what I meant, and I told her that she would get up in the morning and take care of his breakfast and set the table for him. That is something my father-in-law used to do for himself. So, one day, I told my husband that I did not like the closeness of his father and my mother and he made a big joke about it.

One Sunday, my mother cooked and we all sat down at the table to eat. My mother gave the best pieces of the chicken to my father-in-law. The leg and thigh went to him. My husband looked at me, so I told my mother to give him either the leg or the thigh. She replied that my husband could have the other; that was so revealing. After my father-in-law ate, he went on the verandah. I quarrelled with my mother and told her that she was very wrong for doing what she did. I asked her point blank if she is having an affair with my father-in-law. To my horror, she said yes. Then she added that they are big people. I told my mother she would have to leave and go back to her house.

Can you imagine my mother having sex with my father-in-law? She is 68 years old and the man is 70. My husband told me he does not agree with what I have done. He said my mother should stay, and he would talk to his father about his displeasure that he is having sex with my mother. He said his father should remember that he is still married, and his wife is only abroad for a time.

Pastor, what should I do?

P.F.

Dear P.F.,

You should insist that your mother goes back to her home. Your husband knows that she has been very helpful to you and him by taking care of the baby, but she does not have good morals.

She has no shame whatsoever, and whether it is your father-in-law who approached her for sex or showed interest in her, she should have said no. So tell your husband that she cannot stay in the house. Your mother and your father-in-law may want to continue doing what they are doing, but at least they would not be carrying on under your nose, so to speak.

Pastor