Mother-in-law: Sharon (47) (School Bus Driver)

Daughter-in-law: Channiel (31) (Stay At Home Mom)

My Ex’s Mom

Channiel and Sharon are extremely close. They have been inseparable since Channiel fatefully met Sharon’s son Mike by happenstance in a drugstore ten years ago. The two hit it off and it’s been romantic bliss since then. Well, sort of. What really makes Sharon and Channiel head-scratchingly close is that they’re BFF’s even though Mike and Channiel are no longer a couple. That’s right. Channiel and Mike were together for nearly ten years and have been broken up for nine months. But just because they’re not together doesn’t mean that Channiel can’t still be kindred spirits with her ex’s mother!

Sharon and her adorable daughter-in-law think nothing of wearing matching outfits, sharing clothing, and doing each other’s hair and makeup for a night out on the town. They’re even close enough to get naked together as they’re figuring out the perfect club wear. Even though she’s a mom, Sharon is the self-proclaimed twerking queen of the party. Doesn’t matter where she’s at, if the bounce is right, she’ll be at the center of the dance circle. Because they’re beautiful, confident and have jaw-dropping curves, they admittedly get plenty of attention from men. Sharon gets hit on by younger guys all the time, and so does Channiel. They love to flirt and fetch handsome men (who generally think that they’re hitting on a duo of sisters)! When guys find out that they’ve been macking on a mother and daughter-in-law combo they’re bewildered and often weirded out. Understandably so!

Suffice it to say no one in Sharon or Channiel’s life understands or fully supports this duo’s intense relationship. Most notably is Mike, Channiel’s ex, who is beyond fed-up and frustrated by his mom’s incessant relationship with his ex-fiancé. How is Mike, a grown man, supposed to move on if his mother is STILL hanging out with his ex? Sharon and Mike currently live together, which is awkward for a grown son and mother to begin with, but it’s excruciatingly cringe-worthy when Mike brings a young lady home to find that his mother and his EX-FIANCE gossiping at HIS kitchen table! How can Mike hope to date if his ex is constantly around and clearly best friends with his mom?

Mike and Channiel were together for nearly ten years and engaged for part of that time. Both Channiel and Mike have children from previous relationships which they each raise on their own. But during their time together, they each help raise on another’s children, blending their families in an interconnected way. That’s only one of the reasons that it’s complicated for the duo to fully break up with one another. The couple split up because of issues surrounding trust and infidelity. Mike works part-time promoting clubs and events, so he was constantly around beautiful women which lead to seriously suspicious minds. Mike has definitively cheated on Channiel.  In turn, Mike contends that Channiel isn’t as innocent or as morally righteous as she presents. Mike accused Channiel of cheating. And so and so forth… The fact is, they have both been hurt by each other and therefore hurt one another time and time again. The trust has faded from their relationship, but somehow the love hasn’t. They can’t tell if it’s toxic or healthy. Either way, despite being broken up neither one has truly been able to move on and close the door on their relationship.

Sharon is currently single and would love to start dating: of course, with the help of the daughter-in-law! The two look for men together and have discussed setting up a dating profile for Sharon. As fun and carefree as their relationship is, it’s also a relationship of depth, mutual compassion and love. Sharon and Channiel have both lost a brother during the time they’ve known each other. They were critical elements in each other’s healing processes from the traumatic life events. To this day, Channiel and Sharon are one another’s go-to when it comes to life issues, whether they are great or small.

It’s not only that Mike is livid with Sharon and Channiel’s relationship, Sharon’s own sister can’t stomach the it either. She thinks that it is odd, inappropriate and just plain wrong. It’s disrespectful to her son, Mike, that Sharon is “carrying on,” on with Channiel. She is choosing her ex-daugher-in-law over her own child. She especially thinks it absurd that Sharon is going out dancing and making a fool of herself with someone so much younger! Oh, and since the ladies go out to night clubs that Mike works for, it’s especially awkward for him when is ex-fiancé and mom greet him at the front of the line. Mike thinks that his mom needs to cut ties with Channiel. Period. She shouldn’t be invited to family functions. Invited over to their house. She should have ZERO contact with her. Sharon adamantly disagrees. She’s a grown woman and it doesn’t matter who she is friends with!

It’s not a secret that Sharon is rooting for Channiel and Mike to get back together. It’s the two people that she loves the most in the world falling in love. Why wouldn’t she be for it? She’s schemed several ways how to get the headstrong lovers back together. What’s making it tricky now is that Mike is starting what might become a serious relationship. Will this new woman be okay with her boyfriend’s mother being close with his ex?  Sharon still believes that there is a happy future between the two. But do Channiel and Mike know? They’ve done everything that they can to mend their dysfunctional relationship. Couples counseling. Taking a break. Talking through their issues. Anything and everything. Channiel and Mike love the fantasy of a life together, but at this moment in time the reality feels like a bridge-too-far. Mom, however, doesn’t agree…