QuestionMy 74-year-old mother-in-law is getting married for the 3rd time tomorrow to an 80-year-old man she met at church. I truly wish them well, but I have to wonder if her heart is in the right place.
We had never met this man and she called us up Wednesday to let us know she was bringing him over Friday and they were getting married on Saturday. They have seen each other at church for years, but have not been seeing each other as a couple very long at all. What concerns me (besides the fact that my mother-in-law may have a mental problem) is that they have already made out new wills. Am I being too romantic about the whole concept of marriage or is it appropriate to change your will PRIOR to walking down the aisle? The man she's marrying is not wealthy, but I would say that his net worth is quite good from what I have seen of his house, cars, and various "toys" that he keeps. She has nothing but a run down mobile home that has a leaky roof.
Her first husband (my husband's father) divorced her after only a few months of marriage (he caught her cheating). Husband #2 died of natural causes, but from what my husband saw and said I think she helped him a long a little. She has been abusive to pets that were really her husband's.
Am I worrying too much? This seems like a nice man. He was married for fifty years to his first wife. My mother-in-law can be extremely charming and she is still an attractive woman even at her age. She's also quite healthy and her mother lived to be 94.
I'm mostly concerned about them changing their wills so soon, but maybe this is common now a days. Any experience with this type of thing?
Thanking you in advance.
Concerned daughter-in-law
AnswerDear Concerned daughter-in-law,
Yes, generally speaking new wills are made out after a couple is married. Like many older individuals in today's society the feeling of loneliness can be cured with the smallest of gestures. While your mother-in-law may not have all her mental capacities running on full she does know the need and value of a companion to be there, all the time. For this, it is not unusual for older couples to appear to be the oddist match on earth, the match comes form a mutual desire to share the rest of their lives with someone who cares and looking forward to their waking up every day.
Of course you if you fear for either of their safety you should express your concern, aside from that try be tolerant of an all too rare experience for many who are broaching 80.
As an additional note: I, myself, see no tolerance for pet abuse and let's just hope that he has none.
I hope this was helpful.
