When my mother-in-law Christine gave me an old, broken-down car for my birthday, I thought it was a joke. She probably expected me to fail, but instead, I turned that 2008 Ford Mustang GT into a masterpiece worth thousands. Just when I was ready to celebrate, she demanded it back.
Hi, I’m Elisa, and I’ve always loved cars. My dad was a semi-pro racecar driver, so I grew up in garages, learning about engines and fixing cars. By the time I was 12, I could change a tire faster than most adults. I became a senior mechanic as an adult, which was both a career and a passion.
Then I met Henry, my now-husband. We bonded over our love of cars, and after a year, he introduced me to his mom, Christine. The first meeting didn’t go well—she was skeptical of my career and made snide comments about me being a woman mechanic. Despite her attitude, Henry and I got married and bought a house near her, which meant more awkward visits.
On my birthday, Christine gave me the Mustang as a “gift” to fix up, clearly expecting me to fail. But I saw it as a challenge. After months of hard work, I restored the car into a $20,000 beauty. When Christine found out, she demanded it back, claiming it was still hers. I refused, reminding her that she gave it to me. She wasn’t happy, but I took the case to court—and won.
I sold the Mustang for $20,000, used the money to buy myself a new car, and took Henry on a road trip. Christine didn’t like it, but Henry set boundaries with her, and her interference faded. I’m sure she’ll think twice before handing me another project.