“Our Son-in-Law Has Changed Our Daughter Beyond Recognition: She Didn’t Even Come to Her Father’s Milestone Birthday”

I’m writing this with a heavy heart and a mind clouded by frustration. My daughter, once the apple of my eye, has become a stranger to me. This transformation began when she married her husband, a man I have come to despise. It feels like he has brainwashed her, and I can’t recognize the person she has become.

My husband and I have always been close to our daughter, Emily. She was our only child, and we doted on her. We shared everything, from family vacations to Sunday dinners. But ever since she married John, things have changed drastically. John is controlling and manipulative, and it seems like he has a hold over Emily that we can’t break.

The latest incident that has left me shattered is Emily’s absence from her father’s 60th birthday celebration. It was a milestone event, and we had planned it for months. We invited close family and friends, and everyone was looking forward to seeing Emily. But she didn’t show up. Not even a phone call or a message to explain her absence.

When I finally managed to get hold of her, she said John had planned a surprise weekend getaway for them, and she couldn’t refuse. I was livid. How could she prioritize a weekend trip over her father’s milestone birthday? It felt like a slap in the face.

My husband tries to be understanding. He says we need to give Emily space and that she has her own family now. But I can’t help feeling betrayed. It’s as if John has isolated her from us, and she’s willingly going along with it. Our once vibrant and independent daughter now seems like a puppet in his hands.

I’ve tried talking to Emily about it, but every conversation ends in an argument. She accuses me of not respecting her choices and says I’m being unreasonable. But how can I respect choices that are tearing our family apart? How can I stand by and watch as my daughter drifts further away from us?

Our friends have mixed opinions. Some say we should let go and accept that Emily has her own life now. Others sympathize with us and agree that John is the problem. But no one seems to have a solution. I’m at my wit’s end.

I miss the days when Emily would come over for dinner, and we would talk for hours about everything under the sun. Now, our conversations are strained and filled with tension. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells around her, afraid to say anything that might upset her.

John’s influence over Emily is undeniable. He makes all the decisions, and she follows without question. It’s as if she’s lost her voice, her individuality. And it breaks my heart to see her like this.

I don’t know what the future holds for our relationship with Emily. The thought of losing her completely is unbearable, but I don’t know how to bridge the gap that has formed between us. Every attempt to reach out seems to push her further away.

As I sit here writing this, tears streaming down my face, I can’t help but wonder if we’ll ever get our daughter back. Or if we have to come to terms with the fact that the Emily we knew is gone forever.