A young woman has sought advice from online communities after her husband filed for divorce following an argument with her mother-in-law, which escalated into a physical confrontation.
The woman explained that her mother-in-law had come to provide traditional postpartum care, known as omugwo in Nigeria, to help with her and her newborn. However, tensions rose between them, leading to a heated argument. She shared that during the exchange, her mother-in-law slapped her for talking back. In response, the woman immediately slapped her back, justifying her action by saying that her mother-in-law had no right to slap her since she was not her mother.
This retaliation angered her husband, who then demanded she leave their home and filed for divorce. The woman expressed confusion and sought advice on how to handle the situation.
In her post, she shared:
“Please, I need help, they are all turning against me. Things are getting worse here. My mother-in-law, who came for omugwo, has ruined my peaceful home. The argument started when she mentioned that my mother didn’t teach me not to speak back to elders. I responded by questioning what her own mother had taught her, which led to her slapping me. I retaliated because she’s not my mother and had no right to slap me.
This has made my husband file for divorce. He said he can never stay with a woman who raised her hand to his mother. But he doesn’t know the full story, and that’s what’s making him so angry.
Now, he’s telling me to leave the house, and I know that once I go, he won’t look back. He has been a good husband, but look at what his mother has caused. I urgently need advice on what steps to take. Please, let me know what I should do.”
The woman’s dilemma has sparked heated discussions online, with many questioning whether her actions were justified and offering support or suggesting ways to resolve the situation.
