Is your mother-in-law secretly an interior decorator? Or maybe she just thinks your taste in home decor needs a little, maybe a lot, of help. Some mother-in-laws have this magical ability to be both “helpful” and infuriating at the same time. It’s like they’ve earned a PhD in meddling and specialized in driving you up the wall.

Just when you think you’ve got everything under control, they swoop in with their unsolicited advice, a dust cloth, and an iron. This is what one woman constantly goes through when her mother-in-law invites herself to her home to iron her husband’s shirts and “help” her clean the house.

More info: Mumsnet

Woman’s overbearing mother-in-law invites herself over to her house to “help” her clean and completely rearranges her living room while she’s at work

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The mother-in-law constantly changes things around her daughter-in-law’s home, rearranges her rooms, destroys her garden and reorganizes her kitchen

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The mother-in-law didn’t like her daughter-in-law’s wildflower garden, so she decided to sneakily destroy it

Image credits: rawpixel.com / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The woman came home from work once again only to find her living room completely rearranged by her mother-in-law

Image credits: GelatinousDynamo

“I just want to feel needed”: The woman is fed up with her overbearing mother-in-law, who keeps changing things around her home without asking, saying she only wants to “help”

The OP (original poster) had just finished a long day at work, probably dreaming of nothing but plopping down on her comfy couch with a glass of wine and some mindless TV. But instead, she walked into what looked like a set for a house flipping TV show.

The couch wasn’t where it used to be, the armchair was now basking in the “better afternoon light” (whatever that means), and every single item in the living room had been “rearranged” in a way that only makes sense to someone living in an alternate universe. The mysterious decorator? None other than the OP’s mother-in-law, a woman with no concept of boundaries, apparently.

The day before her redecorating session, she had called her son to let him know she was coming over to clean the house and iron his shirts, because, clearly, a 40-year-old man is incapable of operating an iron without mom’s supervision.

Knowing his mom all too well, the OP’s husband told her she could come over to visit, as long as she kept her hands away from the iron and the vacuum. But if you think that stopped the mother-in-law, you’ve seriously underestimated her determination.

While her son was outside, and her daughter-in-law was on a work call, mom saw her chance and completely rearranged the couple’s living room. And the result? Let’s just say the room no longer resembled anything like the cozy space it once was. It was as if a particularly ambitious toddler had decided to redecorate.

But this wasn’t a one-time offense. Oh no, this mother-in-law has a track record that could make anyone’s blood boil. Like the time she mowed down her daughter-in-law’s wildflower meadow in the front garden because she thought it looked like “ugly weeds.”

Or that special occasion when she “organized” the kitchen drawers, leaving nothing where it could be easily found. Not to mention her tendency to destroy clothes in the name of ironing. And let’s not forget the time she secretly fed the family dog to make it like her more. As if it were that easy.

The cherry on top? After she’d completely rearranged the living room, she had the nerve to drop the most passive-aggressive line ever: “I hope you’re not angry with me.” Seriously? It was like watching someone pour salt into a wound and then ask, “Does it hurt?” The OP was stuck rearranging the entire room and avoiding the guilt-loaded text messages from her overbearing mother-in-law.

Image credits: Blue Bird / Pexels (not the actual photo)

But why are some mother-in-laws so overbearing? It’s like they’ve got an unspoken mission to rearrange not just your living room but your entire life. Well, experts say this kind of behavior could be the result of a few things. Maybe she grew up in a tough environment, where control was the name of the game.

Or maybe her own partner is so dominant that she’s decided to channel all her energy into her kids and their spouses. Lucky us, right? Or maybe narcissism is in the mix here. Whether your mother-in-law has a personality that craves constant admiration or something more serious like narcissistic personality disorder, she just has to be the star of the show.

“You may notice that your mother-in-law purposefully ignores the boundaries you’ve set in your home or constantly overstays her welcome. She openly shares her judgments and opinions often, despite resistance from you and your family. If your mother-in-law pressures you to do everything her way, claims “she knows best,” or berates you on the regular, her behaviors could all be indicators of an autocratic personality,” experts explain.

And dealing with an overbearing mother-in-law isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Therapists suggest setting some boundaries early on, kind of like putting up a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your life. It’s all about being polite but firm. Think of it as saying, “Thanks, but no thanks,” with a smile.

What do you think of this story? Is the OP being unreasonable for being absolutely furious at her mother-in-law for her latest “helpful” intervention? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Netizens say the woman is not being unreasonable for being angry at her mother-in-law for rearranging her living room, saying she should do the same to her

Poll Question

Thanks! Check out the results:

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!