My mother-in-law took offence because we refused to let her student son move in with us.
My husband and I have been together for eleven years. We live in a two-bed flat that we finally managed to pay off after years of mortgage payments. Were raising our eight-year-old son, and everything seemed to be going smoothlyuntil my mother-in-law had another one of her “brilliant” ideas, which, as usual, disrupted our peace.
My husband has a younger brother, Theo. Hes seventeen, and to be honest, weve never been particularly close. My husband hardly ever sees himthe age gap is too big. Plus, it irritates him how his parents coddle their youngest, spoiling him, excusing his every fault, and never expecting any effort from him.
Theo is a terrible student, on the verge of being kicked out of sixth form. Yet every poor grade is rewardeda new tablet, the latest trainers. My husband often says, “If Id failed like that, Id have been up all night revising, but he gets presents instead!”
I completely agree. Weve seen Theo refuse to heat up his own meal, even in front of everyone. Hell sit at the table until his parents have cooked, served, and cleared up after him. Not so much as a “thank you” or “goodbye”just up and off to his room. He doesnt know where his socks are, cant make a cup of tea, and leaves his things in a mess. His parents do everything for him. My husband has tried talking to his mum before: “Youre turning him into a helpless brat!” But she just shrugs: “Hes not like you. He needs more affection.”
Arguments, grudges, weeks of silencethats how those conversations usually end. Weve tried to stay out of it. Then Theo suddenly decided to go to uni in our city, and things got messy.
Without a hint of shame, my mother-in-law suggested Theo move in with us. Apparently, he couldnt get student accommodationno fixed address, rent too high, and he wouldnt manage on his own. “Youre family! Youve got a two-bedtheres room for everyone!” she argued, full of confidence.
I tried to explain calmly: one bedroom has our bed, the other our sons. Where, exactly, would we fit another grown man? Thats when she had her bright idea: “Just put an extra bed in your sons room! Theyll get alongboys together!”
Thats when my husband lost his temper. “Im not a babysitter, Mum! Trying to palm off your baby on us? No! Hes your sonyou deal with him! At seventeen, I was living on my own, and I managed just fine!”
My mother-in-law turned red, burst into tears, called us heartless, and slammed the door. That evening, my father-in-law rang to lecture us: “This isnt how family behaves! Youre abandoning your brother!”
But my husband stood his ground. He said hed visit Theo if his parents found him a place, but living with us was out of the question. “Enough treating him like a helpless infant. Its time he grew up.”
“Hes only seventeen!” his dad protested.
“I was seventeen when I moved out aloneand I coped! No one coddled me!” my husband shot back before hanging up.
After that, my mother-in-law rang several timesmy husband ignored her. Then a text arrived: “You can forget about the inheritance.” Honestly? If that “inheritance” means taking responsibility for a spoiled brat, no thanks. Weve already earned what we havethrough hard work, our family, and our peace of mind.
Everyone has to live with their choices. If someone chose the path of endless indulgence, let them deal with the consequences. We owe nothing to anyone.
Life teaches us that sometimes, protecting our boundaries and our peace is the only way to hold onto what weve built.
