My friend A., who is over 80, recently confided in me: »My mother-in-law was the most mother to me. And I had several. My biological one died when I was 1, the second one when I was 7. That one was very loving. The next one was a beast who abused and let us children starve. I experienced my father’s 4th and 5th wives as adults and felt a great distance. Nevertheless, my father insisted that I call her mum. My mother-in-law was so kind and warm-hearted, I felt more secure with her than ever before.«
