Mother-in-law: Olga (44)

Daughter-in-law: Eliza (22)

Sister-In-Law: Barbara (25)

Son: Brandon (Eliza’s Husband) (22)

location: Austin, Texas

A Mom & Sister-In-Law

Few people can say that they’ve gone to their mother-in-law (instead of their own mom) after they lost their virginity…but Eliza can! Eliza started dating Olga’s son Brandon when she was only thirteen years old and quickly fell in love with his mom! Eliza’s parents are divorced so she was raised by her own mother. But balancing single motherhood, multiple jobs and multiple children meant Eliza was lost and forgotten in the mix. So, she naturally bonded with Olga. But it wasn’t just a mother that Eliza gained in the process, for better or worse, she also gained a sister-in-law: Barbara.

Barbara is several years older than Eliza so the two practically grew up together. Barbara has always resented the attention that her mother has given to Eliza. To make matter’s worse, Eliza and Barbara have similar interests, career goals and BIG personalities that CLASH. Like biological sisters they have affection for one another but they also are competitive, combative and petty with one another. It’s classic sibling rivalry with these two…but it’s a sister-in-law relationship. Both want to be the prettiest, get more attention, and gain more favor with their shared, “mom,” Olga.

Olga often finds herself caught in the middle, doing her absolute best to make sure everything is even and fair, from special Christmas presents to weekly invites out to dinner, she is forced to choose on a daily basis. Despite Olga’s best attempts to manage, unavoidably someone gets bitter and isn’t shy to pipe up about it. Barbara admits that she can be a “bitch” and acknowledges that people tend to see her more often as the demanding and rebellious type who calls it like she sees it. Barbara feels left out, and plays second fiddle to Eliza.

Little would Eliza know that hanging in her high school boyfriend’s bedroom would someday be her fulltime shared bedroom with her husband! Eliza and Brandon have decided to sell their home to save money on a mortgage payment and live full time with Olga and Eliza’s father-in-law. Eliza says that as kid’s it’s easy to want space and to be out on your own, but as an adult, it’s nice to have a parent with you to help with the cooking and cleaning again.

Not only does Eliza feel as if she has a built in care taker that she lives with, but also a built-in best friend. Eliza and her “Olgita” will stay up until the early hours of 4am chatting and gossiping together. If they’re not up all night at home, then Eliza’s sitting in Olga’s hair salon getting her hair done and letting the conversation continue! Nothing is off the table for these two. Growing up sex never was a taboo conversation topic. Eliza was nervous and uncomfortable at first to talk about sex with her husband’s mother, but now the both of them will freely go to each other for advice and to have intimate discussions about their own son and father-in-law! If they’re not at home together, they will be watching on their smart phones the location of the other and if Eliza looks like she’s somewhere slightly out of the norm, Olga will be quick to call to make sure she’s safe and everything is alright.

However, Barbara isn’t the only close family member who has felt the burn of their bond. While Eliza is close with her mom and dad, the pandemic and distance have both contributed to a wedge between them. Riffs began during the wedding planning when Eliza’s mom started to see just how involved Olga was in comparison to her. With Eliza’s mom now living a plane ride away in Colorado, she often feels sad and hurt by the distance and Olga is quick to step in and comfort her.

Eliza and Brandon are building their own home and will have to move out towards the end of the year. Neither Olga or Eliza are looking forward to that day. Additionally, the young couple are trying to find their way as a newly married couple, still living under their parent’s roof. Barbara is starting her own business that is similar to what Eliza wants to do, so it’s inevitable that the two girls will only continue to clash. It’s going to be lots of in-law love and sparks with this unpredictable group!