When my mother-in-law, Linda, asked to stay with us for “just a few weeks” while her kitchen was being remodeled, I didn’t think twice. Of course we’d help — family supports one another. But I wasn’t prepared for how much those few weeks would test our patience, communication, and boundaries.
From the moment she arrived — suitcase in hand, greeting us with a brisk air-kiss — it was clear Linda had a particular way of doing things. By day two, she had settled in as if the house were her own. And slowly, subtle messages began appearing — not spoken, but written on brightly colored sticky notes scattered throughout the house.
At first, I thought they were simple reminders: “Buy eggs” or “Trash day is Thursday.” But soon, they shifted in tone.
Notes appeared in the kitchen that read, “A fresh dish for each meal — it’s what a caring wife does,” or on the dishwasher, “Real wives don’t ‘forget’ to unload me.” The laundry basket bore its own reminder: “A good wife doesn’t wait until socks run out.” Even the coffee maker wasn’t spared: “A loving wife makes coffee before her husband wakes up.”
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