Quick context: there was a big argument between my mom and my wife recently about having children. I stepped in and defended my wife and things got very tense in the house after that. I posted that incident here on this sub
Since that day, my mom hasn’t brought up the topic of kids even once. On the surface, it feels like the issue is dropped. But nothing actually feels okay
She barely talks to us anymore. It’s not open anger but like short replies., avoiding conversations..sitting in another room most of the time. The house feels like it’s become too quiet in a way that’s uncomfortable, not peaceful
My wife has also changed. She’s not openly upset but she’s distant in her own way. She doesn’t really interact with my mom anymore. Even with me.. she feels emotionally far
So now I’m living in a house where no one is fighting anymore… but no one is really living together either. It’s just silence from both sides and I feel stuck in the middle of it
My mom still lives in the same house she built her life around after my dad passed. I can see she’s hurt, even if she doesn’t say it. Because she’s not being dramatic, she’s just… withdrawn. Like she’s accepted something she doesn’t want to say out loud
At the same time, my wife doesn’t feel comfortable here anymore. She hasn’t said it directly but I can tell! She’s careful with everything she says or does. It feels like she’s constantly aware she’s in someone else’s space, not her home
And I keep thinking.. this isn’t fair to either of them
I’m starting to think the only way out of this is for my wife and I to move out and live separately.. but leaving my mom behind just because things got uncomfortable feels bad. at the same time staying here feels like I’m slowly letting my wife disappear into a space where she doesn’t fully belong anymore.
AITAH for wanting to move out with my wife even if it means leaving my mom alone in the house because neither of them feel like they can live together anymore?