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The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/ThrowRA_HomeDecor on 2023-09-24 06:34:15.
My husband, formerly widowed (35M) and I (32F) have been together for 3 years, married for one. His late wife passed 7 years ago and they were high school sweethearts.
My husband and I met a few years after she passed and we had a great relationship. His former in laws also really liked me although it seemed they were a little possessive about my husband and their daughter’s memory, but I was considerate of their grief. So I didn’t mind that much.
I moved to my husband’s home that he once shared with his late wife and sold the one I bought. Now, since I was his wife, we both wanted the house to reflect our shared memories, our life together and our shared tastes. We were very excited to renovate and redecorate our walls, the floors and replaced all the furniture to compliment the new decor. I am also friends with an interior decorator and we used the money I got from the sale of my old house towards redecorating our home. It was a very romantic experience in a way. We put up our photos, paintings that I drew, new nameplate and stuff.
His late wife’s parents were visiting town to see some of their grand kids from his late wife’s brother who lives in the same city as us, and we invited them over for dinner. Immediately upon entering the home, their mood changed. The mother especially became very upset and almost aggressive. She started accusing me of erasing their daughter’s memory. I tried to be understanding and told them that we both undertook this project together to reflect the life WE share as a couple and that it was important for both of us to have a fresh start at life.
She became increasingly livid and told me that “It doesn’t look like she even lives here, why did you have to put the wedding photos away?” At this point I’ve had enough. I told her that her daughter does NOT live here. I do, we do. We are married and I’m so sorry she’s gone and she is hurting but this is MY house too and we can make it look like however we wish.
My husband and his former FIL tried to calm the situation down but she ran away with tears in her eyes. I feel terrible that she was hurt but is it really my fault? Am I not supposed to have a normal married life with my own HUSBAND? AITA?