It’s Pickle Sick!

CONTENT WARNING: Abuse (forced eating)

I hate cucumbers (and pickles). I CANNOT make myself eat them, no matter how hard I try or how they are disguised. I was at my in-laws for a picnic. [Mother-In-Law] made cucumber salad among other things. She was in front of me in the food line, and yes, she knows I don’t like them.

Mother-In-Law: “Here, [My Name], have some salad.”

Me: *Pulling my plate away.* “No, thank you.”

Mother-In-Law: *Grabbing my plate.* “Just a bite! Come on, you’re not allergic.”

Me: “No.”

I stare at her, heaping spoon in hand. We are both holding on to my plate, and I am just about to let go when my husband speaks up.

Husband: “Mom, she doesn’t want it.”

Mother-In-Law: “I made it myself! There’s nothing dangerous about cucumber salad!”

Husband: “It’s nothing personal. Come on, you’re holding up the line.”

She slams the spoon in the bowl, causing a small mess across the table. She continues filling her plate in an aggressive manner, saying things like “not like you’re actually allergic” and “acting like it’s going to kill you.” I did not engage.

I took my seat beside my husband and began eating and talking with everyone around me. [Mother-In-Law] took the seat on my other side, dropping her plate on the table in a huff. Someone said something funny, and I tipped my head back and laughed. At that exact moment, a spoon appeared in my mouth and a hand at the back of my head. I gagged immediately on the cucumber salad and came back upright to see [Mother-In-Law] standing over me.

Husband: “Mom! Are you insane!?”

Mother-In-Law: “See! She can eat it!”

I am trying SO HARD not to throw up, but I can feel my stomach turning. I turned my head and spat spoon and all… onto [Mother-In-Law]’s dress.

Mother-In-Law: “You b****!”

She actually slaps me.

Husband: “You psycho!”

He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her away. I missed the next part because I was trying to breathe through the surprise vegetable attack and convince my body not to throw up. Eventually, [Husband] came back to me.

Husband: “Come on, we’re leaving.”

Mother-In-Law: “It’s not even an allergy! Picky eaters need to learn!”

That was the last event we attended where she was present. I’m sure it hurts my husband to not visit with his family. I’ve told him he can go on his own, but he always says he would rather have a quiet day with me than a loud day with her.