My mother-in-law is furious 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-bedroom 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 once again disrupted our peace.
My husband has a younger brother, Oliver. Hes seventeen, and to be honest, weve never been particularly close to him. My husband hardly sees himthe age gap is too big. Plus, it irritates him to see how his parents coddle their youngest son, spoiling him, forgiving everything, and never expecting any effort from him.
Oliver is a terrible student, on the verge of being expelled from sixth form. Yet every poor grade is rewardeda new tablet, the latest trainers. My husband keeps saying, “If I got a zero, Id have to spend nights revising, but he gets presents instead!”
I completely agree. Weve often seen Oliver refuse to heat up his own food, even in front of everyone. He sits at the table until his parents have prepared everything, served him, and cleared up after him. After meals? No “thank you,” no “goodbye.” He just gets up and goes back to his room. He doesnt know where his socks are, cant make tea, and mixes up all his things. His parents do everything for him. My husband has tried talking to his mum about it before: “Youre turning him into a helpless child!” But she just shrugs and says, “Hes not like you. He needs more affection.”
Arguments, grudges, weeks of silencethats always been the result of these conversations. Weve tried our best to stay out of ituntil Oliver suddenly decided to go to university in our city. Thats when things got messy.
My mother-in-law, without a shred of embarrassment, suggested Oliver move in with us. Apparently, he wouldnt get student accommodationno permanent address, rent too high, and he wouldnt manage on his own. “Youre family! Youve got a two-bed, theres room for everyone!” she argued confidently.
I tried to explain calmly: one bedroom has our bed, the other our childs. Where, exactly, would we fit another grown adult? Then my mother-in-law had a “bright” idea: “Just put an extra bed in your sons roomtheyll be like brothers!” After all, whats the harm? Two boys, theyll get along.
But thats when my husband lost his temper. He cut her off:
“Im not a babysitter, Mum! You want to dump your baby on us? No! Hes your sonyou deal with him! At seventeen, I was already living on my own, and I survived!”
My mother-in-law turned red, burst into tears, called us heartless, and stormed out. That evening, my father-in-law rang to scold us:
“This isnt how family behaves! Youre abandoning your brother!”
But my husband stood his ground. He said hed visit Oliver if his parents sorted out his own place. But living with us? Absolutely not. “Enough treating him like a helpless infant. Its time he grew up.”
“Hes only seventeen!” his dad argued.
“I was seventeen when I moved out. And I managed fine! No one coddled me!” my husband shot back before hanging up.
After that, my mother-in-law called several timesmy husband didnt answer. Then a text came: “You can forget about the inheritance.” Honestly? If that “inheritance” means taking responsibility for a spoiled brat, then no thanks. Weve already earned what we deservethrough hard work, our family, and our peace of mind.
Everyone must live with their choices. If someone chose the path of endless indulgence and laziness, let them deal with the consequences now. We owe nothing to anyone.
Life teaches us that protecting our boundaries and inner peace is sometimes the only way to hold onto what weve built.
