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Woman Gets Hated On By In-Laws For Decades, They’re Shocked When She Doesn’t Let Them Move In

Woman Gets Hated On By In-Laws For Decades, They’re Shocked When She Doesn’t Let Them Move In

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In-laws – can’t live with them, can’t banish them to another dimension. While some are kind and sweet, others treat you like their go-to punching bag for passive-aggressive comments, unsolicited opinions, and generational grudges. Between boundary bulldozing and a level of entitlement usually reserved for royalty, in-law relationships can get spicy.

“Mi casa es su casa” doesn’t apply when your mother-in-law suddenly decides your house is her retirement plan, especially if she’s been treating you like the evil stepmom from every Disney movie from day one, just like our Redditor’s mother-in-law did.

More info: Reddit

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    Some in-laws bring pie when they visit, others bring entitlement with a side of passive aggression

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

    One woman refuses to allow her in-laws to move in with her and her husband and take care of them after decades of being insulted and mistreated

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

    Despite building a family with her husband, the woman’s mother-in-law always excluded her and never truly saw her as a family

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

    The couple are planning to downsize for retirement, but the mother-in-law goes ballistic when she hears the news, as she was expecting to move in with them

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    Image credits: t_away_321654

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    The woman refuses to allow her in-laws to move in and care for them as they demand because of the way they treated her for 20 years

    The OP (original poster) and her husband have been together since they were 16, got married young, had kids young, and now those kids are off living their best grown-up lives. They were finally ready to downsize, relax, and maybe even nap in peace. But the OP’s mother-in-law had other plans for them.

    She and her father-in-law were planning to move in once the daughter went off to college. Say what now? Yup, apparently, the mother-in-law assumed, without a single conversation, might I add, that they’d be taken in because, culturally, it’s common for adult children to care for their elders.

    Only, she forgot one teeny tiny detail: she treated her daughter-in-law like expired tofu for the past two decades. I’m talking cold shoulders at family events, deliberate exclusions from holidays, and even refusing to acknowledge the OP as part of the family.

    So, what did she do? She went no contact with her in-laws and the extended crew, and hubby went low contact. Boundaries, people. They’re a beautiful thing.

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    Now, with both parents healthy, retired, financially stable, and clearly bored, the mother-in-law decided it was time to claim her prize – a fully furnished home and a free live-in caregiver in the shape of the OP. But our Redditor and her husband shut that fantasy down real quick, telling the in-laws to find somewhere else to live.

    The mother-in-law did not take it well and started a family smear campaign, complete with guilt-tripping and name-calling. But the final cherry on this already ridiculous sundae? The mother-in-law calls her daughter-in-law a “white devil.” Charming, right?

    Image credits: Wavebreak Media / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    Some folks are just clueless that way. Or maybe just entitled? You don’t get to treat someone like an outsider for 20 years and then expect free room and board. Entitlement is that sneaky little mindset where someone genuinely believes the world and all the people in it owe them something.

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    It’s not just about wanting things; it’s about believing one deserves them just because. Entitled people often have a buffet of reasons for their absurd demands. This attitude usually starts in childhood when someone is treated like the sun and the stars and somehow ends up believing they deserve better than others.

    But see, that doesn’t work on everyone. While some folks just give in to entitled people’s ridiculous requests to avoid conflict, others set boundaries early on. Setting boundaries with family is not just necessary; it’s essential for your sanity. They help protect your time, energy, and well-being from being crushed by guilt trips, uninvited opinions, and unexpected moving trucks.

    When you encounter an entitled person in the wild, be clear, calm, and consistent. Whether it’s limiting phone calls, saying no to surprise visits, or shutting down backhanded compliments with a smile and a “Let’s not go there,” boundaries teach people how to treat you. And guess what? Healthy families respect them, even if it takes a few awkward conversations and some practice rounds.

    What do you think of this story? If you were in the poster’s shoes, what would your welcome mat say? Drop your thoughts and comments below!

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    Netizens side with the woman, saying she is not a jerk for refusing to take care of her in-laws after the way they excluded her from the family

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    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    What is your perspective on the mother-in-law's expectation to live with her son and daughter-in-law after years of tension?

    She is entitled and unrealistic.

    It's understandable but still unfair.

    She has a cultural expectation that might not fit here.

    The in-laws should respect boundaries set by their children.

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    Monica Selvi

    Monica Selvi

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Hi! I'm Moni. I’m a globetrotting creative with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. I’ve lived in 4 different countries, an visited 17, soaking up inspiration wherever I go. A marketer by trade but a writer at heart, I’ve been crafting stories, poems, and songs, and creating quirky characters since I was 7.

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    Monica Selvi

    Monica Selvi

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Hi! I'm Moni. I’m a globetrotting creative with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. I’ve lived in 4 different countries, an visited 17, soaking up inspiration wherever I go. A marketer by trade but a writer at heart, I’ve been crafting stories, poems, and songs, and creating quirky characters since I was 7.

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    Read less »

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    What do you think ?
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    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is 4 years old. Hope OP + her hubs stood their ground with his parents.

    Petra Peitsch
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeaps, and I hope "everyone else" took those two in, From which one is a disrespectful b.astard.

    Sue Ellen Bowen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It never ceases to amaze me how someone can think it's ok to treat people like garbage and then expect something from them. I'd have told her there's not a snowball's chance in Hades that she would ever live with me.

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    g90814
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some customs need to be dropped, especially in cases like this. MIL didn't think this through anytime in the past 20 years.

    SpiderWoman13
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    CARING for someone is not an obligation by blood, tradition or duty - but by mutual CARE from both sides. The only exception is children, who did not ask to be born. You decide to have children, whatever their incapacitation as adults, you have to care for them, as long as you don't harm yourself doing so.

    Load More Comments
    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is 4 years old. Hope OP + her hubs stood their ground with his parents.

    Petra Peitsch
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeaps, and I hope "everyone else" took those two in, From which one is a disrespectful b.astard.

    Sue Ellen Bowen
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It never ceases to amaze me how someone can think it's ok to treat people like garbage and then expect something from them. I'd have told her there's not a snowball's chance in Hades that she would ever live with me.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    g90814
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some customs need to be dropped, especially in cases like this. MIL didn't think this through anytime in the past 20 years.

    SpiderWoman13
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    CARING for someone is not an obligation by blood, tradition or duty - but by mutual CARE from both sides. The only exception is children, who did not ask to be born. You decide to have children, whatever their incapacitation as adults, you have to care for them, as long as you don't harm yourself doing so.

    Load More Comments
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