My first Father in law and I grew to enjoy each others company, but things didn’t start that way. In the beginning as I visited I could have scoped up dislike with a spoon. I had a job in his home, to pay for the food I ate there; washing dishes. The job was easy but I had a hard time doing it. I was glued to the couch trying to disappear through its stuffing into the wall. I was traumatized before I met Dad and even more so with him in the room and forgot important things and couldn’t think straight.  At some point Dad left the room. With him gone I had enough energy to get up and get going.
Poor Dad. he left the room to take a shower but at the same time I was also doing my job! His cold showers never cooled his dislike, of course. His enmity was inflamed and told me about it. I didn’t repeat “our problem” over and over on purpose!  Karma?  nancymauerman.com