"First, sit down and talk to him openly about the household finances. If you keep hiding it, he'll always think the family is doing fine."
"Second, keep a daily ledger. Write down every expense. At the end of the month, let him see it with his own eyes."
"Third, find a job. Become financially independent."
"And lastly…" She paused, then continued calmly. "If he doesn't change, or worse, starts coveting the money you earn, then you really need to think carefully about your future."
This was the standard modern survival guide for a daughter-in-law.
Mary knew that changing Kristen's family overnight was unrealistic. The first step was to stabilize her emotions and give her a path forward.
Only when a woman had her own income could she stop being the weaker party in a marriage.
Kristen fell silent for a long time. When she finally spoke again, her eyes were clearer than before. "I'll remember it. For the sake of the child, I won't be weak anymore."
