When my mother-in-law, Linda, moved in with us, she declared herself a “guest” and refused to contribute to household chores. Rather than arguing, I decided to treat her like the VIP she claimed to be—until she had enough.
The Unexpected Houseguest
One afternoon, my husband, Jason, informed me that his mother needed a place to stay for “a little while.” Linda had sold her condo, and since we had the space, she would be moving in temporarily.
“How long is ‘a little while’?” I asked, sensing this would be more than a short visit.
“A couple of weeks, maybe a month?” Jason replied casually.
Reluctantly, I agreed, though I had concerns. The last time we spent an extended period together, she had opinions about everything—my cooking, my cleaning, even how I folded towels.
Settling In—Or Taking Over
Linda arrived with three suitcases, a collection of houseplants, and an apparent expectation of being waited on. My initial optimism quickly faded as she made herself at home—without contributing.
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