Help! My Mother-in-Law’s Emotional Confession Has Me Confused

Hey everyone,

I really need some advice and support right now. So, here’s the deal: Yesterday, my mother-in-law, Ella, came over to visit us. Everything was going fine until she suddenly broke down in tears while looking at my son, Nathan. She said, “Wybacz mi, Aniu – powiedziała ze łzami w oczach teściowa – Bóg już mnie ukarał,” which translates to “Forgive me, Ania – said the mother-in-law with tears in her eyes – God has already punished me.”

I was completely taken aback and didn’t know how to respond. Ella has always been a bit reserved, and we’ve never had any major issues between us. But this sudden emotional outburst has left me feeling confused and worried. What could she be referring to? Is there something from her past that’s haunting her? Or is it something related to our family?

I want to be supportive and help her through whatever she’s going through, but I don’t know where to start. Should I talk to her directly about it, or give her some space and wait for her to open up on her own? How do I approach this sensitive topic without making things worse?

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!