Listening

Emma married a man from an old, traditional Italian family. Wanting to be accepted, she changed her faith, attended every family gathering, and even learned Italian customs. But nothing seemed to satisfy them. When Emma traveled to Sicily with her husband’s relatives, some refused to eat at the same table with her because she wasn’t Italian. One of them was even a priest. Years later, Emma gave birth to their daughter, Lucia. At a Christmas dinner when Lucia was six, Emma’s father-in-law gave money gifts to all the grandchildren with Italian heritage—but gave nothing to Lucia. She cried for hours, wondering why her grandfather didn’t love her. Emma’s husband remained silent, unwilling to choose sides. Emma now asks herself: How far should a person go to be accepted by their spouse’s family?