Her criticism was one thing, but her obsession with snooping in our bedroom was another. She’d regularly excuse herself to “use the bathroom” upstairs instead of the guest bath. One day, I caught her rummaging through my jewelry box. She claimed she got “turned around,” but it was clear she was snooping.
After telling Richard, I decided to install a lock, but she kept trying to get in, claiming she “forgot” about the guest bathroom. Richard brushed it off, but I was fed up.
For our next family gathering, I set a glitter trap over our bedroom door. When Monica predictably excused herself, a loud shriek followed. We rushed upstairs to find her covered in golden glitter, looking furious. “You did this on purpose!” she shouted.
“Monica,” I replied calmly, “if you’d used the guest bathroom, you wouldn’t be covered in glitter. What exactly were you looking for?”
Richard was upset, siding with his mom, but I held firm. Sometimes, drastic measures are needed to make a point.
Was the glitter trap too much? Maybe, but she hasn’t tried going upstairs since.