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Would you take objection if your spouse wanted to keep photos of his/her late spouse on the parlour walls?

A young lady here in my village recently married a widower. He is 41, she is 24. They have been married 3 months now. He was married to his late wife 15 years before she passed. Everything has gone well in their relationship/marriage up until this point.

2 weeks ago, her mother decided to impose upon the newly married couple. The mother-in-law convinced the lady that if the man truly loves her, he would be able to move on and focus all of his attention on her. The wife asked her husband to take down the photos but he refused.

In response, the mother-in-law demanded the lady move back in with her and her husband until the man takes down the photos. The husband has filed a grievance demanding that if the wife doesn't return in 3 days, the family should return the bride price, which would dissolve the marriage.
LadyGrace · 70-79
Her mother needs to mind her own business and not disrupt this marriage. After all, SHE'S not the bride. She's the troublemaker in this situation. The couple needs to move as far away from her as they can get. If it's this way now, what will she do next and how long will she interfere in the marriage, is the problem. If the bride had been troubled by these pictures, she would have said so in the beginning, but she never even brought the subject up so they could discuss it, so she was fine with it until her mother butted in. 😡
This sounds like a conflict between MIL and husband, and the girl is caught in the crossfire.

The mother either wants control of the marriage or she wants her daughter back.

It is now the girl's choice. Does she want her mother or her husband?
SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@Mamapolo2016 I agree. Monster-in-law
@SheGotSkills Exactly.
LadyGrace · 70-79
The bride doesn't seem very mature, herself. Did she marry mommy or her husband? Is she going to run to mommy every time there's a problem or is her mother going to butt in every time they have a problem? They need to get this straightened out right now! That mother needs to be put in her place. She has no business butting in their affairs.
@LadyGrace Ughhh I can relate to this, my wife and mother in law are the same but praise God it's improved.

You know what- I don't care if it's cultural- if you are an adult and you have to get mummy involved with your relationship or you spend more time with her than your spouse there's an issue- grow up!

And even when the wrong is admitted it doesn't just go away- you despise your mother in law and can't stand to see her (yes I know I shouldn't- but long story.)
LadyGrace · 70-79
@BritishFailedAesthetic I'm glad you said that about cultural circumstances. You are exactly right! Culture or not, this is just wrong. Good for you for recognizing this. I had the best mother-in-law in the world so I was very blessed with that. She never tried to interfere in our marriage but was just as loving and sweet and kind as she could be. She was even better to me than my own mother who might didn't really know because she was never a friend. This is the kind of bull that needs to stop between married couples. This is why the Bible said when we get married we cling to our partners and nobody is supposed to interfere with the married couples decisions I don't care who they are.
DrWatson · 70-79, M
I know a couple who met at a widow/widower support group and got married.
They have a picture of each of their first spouses side by side on a shelf.


In this case, the situation is not symmetric like that. And what you say at the end indicates that this marriage is within a culture that is different from my own. In particular, the role of a mother-in-law in a marriage might not be what I am used to. But it sounds to me as if the wife had no objections until her mother showed up.

But to answer your question about how I would react: If I were single and dating a widow, I would get a sense of how she remembered her first husband and how she thought of me. My decision would not be about a photo, it would be about her attitudes. If I was comfortable with all that, and we fell in love and got married, I would be fine with a photo displayed somewhere in the house.
Scribbles · 36-40, F
His late wife was (assuming they had a good relationship) a very important part of his life. Having photos of good memories is a good thing and a good reason to keep them up. No reason to take them down. If the wife and mother in law are feeling insecure then THAT is the problem that needs addressing. Maybe they need more reassurance?

I married man who was previously divorced. His ex was a big part of his life for awhile. I am his wife now and feel secure in my relationship. I have no problem that some.photos in our shared digital photo frame include a few.good memories from those days. It doesn't change the present to have photos of the past up.

It seems like such a silly grievance of the mother in law to demand the photos come down. How about putting MORE photos up so the wall Includes photos of the new wife too. :)

That's how I see it. But I also know in some.places in the world it's more culturally acceptable to put away one's late spouse:s stuff and.photos when you remarry- so idk
Maybe people just have to decide what is right for themselves and their relationship in this case?
SW-User
Burn it down and take his money
SW-User
@OliviaOfTheNight only after I touch your bank account
@SW-User you forgot to heart my comment
SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@SW-User Great minds think alike
That's a trick subject.
Firstly, I know the mother is looking out for her daughters best interest, but she needs to stay out of it.
Secondly, she new wife needs to be patient with him. The passing of a spouse takes time to mend.
Thirdly, the new wife needs to calming and rationally talk with the husband about moving things around to make it her own.
Fourthly, the husband may need help in letting go of some things. Not necessarily throwing them away, but relocating them or just putting them away for safe keeping.

As a widower I have come to the realization that she isn't coming back and have had to make some changes of my own. Of course, I do not have a new wife either, but still change in small steps have been made.

I hope they can work this out. Open and honest communication is a must. Both have to be willing to compromise. But new wife needs to realize it isn't going to happen overnight. The change will come for him though.
Longpatrol · 31-35, M
Tell the mother in law to eff off. 15 years is a long time to know someone, pretending she doesn't exist does't erase the love he had for his wife, his new wife should recognise that part of his life, and not feel threatened by it.

As long as he doesn't obsess or compare her to the departed lady the relationship should be fine.
ABCDEF7 · M
In the cases of marriage with widow/widower, it's the responsbility of both partners that they forget the past relationship by showing love and affection for each other.
AnonymousJSS · 22-25, F
That’s stupid. Maybe he’s just lazy to even take down the photos- it doesn’t mean anything. The mother in law is childish and delusional.
Jimmy2016 · 61-69, M
🤔Well, if he paid the family to marry her, the family needs to stay out of it.
Disgustedman · 61-69, M
Well if they were nudes, yeah I would take exception.
WhateverWorks · 36-40
Me personally, I wouldn’t mind them keeping the photos, but I wouldn’t be comfortable with them being hung up in our home. It would suggest to me that he hasn’t moved on, and perhaps attempted to remarry too quickly. Of course, these are conversations I would’ve had with him before we ever got engaged even.
SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@WhateverWorks Thank you for sharing your thoughtful perspective. The situation should be fairly examined from both points of view. Maybe no one is wrong here. Perhaps, he is just not ready. I personally don't believe she is right for leaving the house but every person has their limitations. There could exist unknown contributing factors also.
BackyardShaman · 61-69, M
I would not object to the pictures, I’d be more concerned if he or she ignored their dead spouse’s existence. The man should divorce her immediately, she is heartless and self centered.
fishescycle · 26-30
@SheGotSkills where did this happen and do you got a link to the story?
SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@fishescycle It happened here in my village Osun State Nigeria . There's no link.
BackyardShaman · 61-69, M
@SheGotSkills I’m living with what that man lives with, next year it will be 10 years. My dead wife’s photo is on my refrigerator and my girlfriend now not only does not object but speaks with her occasionally and feels she is her guardian angel. This is the kind of person I respect and want in my life, not a self centered woman that lets her mother control her. The two ladies, my deceased wife and present girlfriend, never met each other.
If I pass before my spouse I want her to keep a glossy 8x10 of my ugly mug right on the dresser looking down over the marital bed so I can keep an eye on her and her new hubbies nocturnal activities.....

J/K of course.

I say "good for him" and to the MIL I say "butt out".
And to the new bride I say: She is dead and is no threat to you or your marriage.
Imsleepy · 31-35
Hmm. Honestly I wouldn’t be fond of the idea. But at the same time, if I were on the opposite side, I would probably want at least one photo out somewhere. I’m sure they could come to a compromise, but they have to talk and be willing to understand each other’s perspective.
SW-User
If he's moved on enough to get married again, he can move on further to take down the photos.

He can keep one picture for her memory.
@SW-User why 1 if photos = not moved on?
BackyardShaman · 61-69, M
@SW-User conditions
SW-User
@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP She died , it's not like he's divorced.

Its out of respect.
eMortal · M
Strange thing to be worrying about the dead coming back to steal a spouse.
That being said, the man is not helping himself with photos. He can’t totally move on if he keeps them everywhere.
SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@eMortal That's reasonable.
11knaves11 · 41-45, M
Seems like she married someone that is not truly over the loss of his wife. It's a tough situation that I feel I'd have to be ok with keep the memories but I think she's in a tough situation
smileylovesgaming · 31-35, F
I would have no problem if he wanted to. Sounds like the mother in-law has the problem
oldercanuck1 · 70-79, M
Different places different rules ,,, not my place to tell them what to do ,,
SteveHenry1986 · 36-40, M
no not at all. It's just a photo at the end of the day. lol
Adrift · 61-69, F
What country is this in?
SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@Adrift The best country in the world: Nigeria.
Adrift · 61-69, F
@SheGotSkills Ok, so I wouldn't have a problem with the pictures.
Being an American I would simply tell my mother to mind her own business, but other cultures can be different.
I know that in some other countries that inlaws and family members have alot of say so and a bride telling her mother to pound sand might cause some trouble Lol.
I know of a guy from Nigeria who lost his wife in childbirth, he was so devastated.
He will never forget her and his love for her will never change, but in time he did start looking to find someone again.
HannahSky · F
There's all kinds of problems in this scenario.
love is forever, even beyond the grave
People should Step in any relationship Knowingly.
RedBaron · M
What business is it of yours?
Lilymoon · F
yeah that's all kinds of stupid 🤦‍♀️
SW-User
I'd hope never to be in that position. You can't just throw away 15 years of memory, but also how does the new wife feel.

Difficult although in the above case MIL sounds horrible with no empathy.
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SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@Justice4All What part of Africa?
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ViciDraco · 36-40, M
I could see it being an issue if there were tons of photos all over the house, but a few photos here and there should not be problematic.

I would be concerned that the mother in law is going to set out to make me miserable and the influence she has over her daughter will allow her to do it.
If I did, I'd probably try to keep it to myself.
MartinTheFirst · 26-30, M
what the crap lol...
SheGotSkills · 18-21, F
@MartinTheFirst What would you say? Would you have any objections?
MartinTheFirst · 26-30, M

 
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