My son has turned into a complete slob, and his girlfriend is his exact reflection. Im exhausted from living in their mess.
I never imagined Id say this out loud, but Ive had enoughenough of dirty dishes, a floor that hasnt seen a broom in weeks, the lingering smell of leftover meals, and the feeling of sharing a home with careless roommates instead of living in my own place. All because of my son and his girlfriend, who have been camping out here as if on vacation for the past two months.
Louis is twenty. Hes enrolled in a distancelearning bachelors program, just finished his military service, and immediately landed a job. An adult, in theoryindependent, contributing to the bills, not just drifting. I was proud of him. That was until that fateful conversation.
Mom, he told me one day, Mathildes situation at home is terrible. Her parents are constantly fighting, shouting, and she cant even study in peace. Can she stay with us for a while until things calm down? We wont make a fuss.
I felt sorry for her. Id seen her beforeshy, polite, eyes down, soft voice. How could I refuse? Besides, Louis has his own room, theres space. I just didnt anticipate the gift it would become.
At first they tried: dishes put away, floor swept, no noise. We even set up a cleaning scheduleSaturday was theirs, Wednesday mine. I thought maybe they were finally maturing. But three weeks later everything collapsed.
Dirty plates with dried food sat in the sink for days; hair and wrappers littered the floor. The bathroom? Shampoo stains, hair clogged in the drain, soap residue everywhere. Their bedroom resembled a denclothes tossed about, crumbs on the desk, an unmade bed. Mathilde roamed around with a mask on her face, phone in hand, as if she were at a spa, not in my home.
I tried to talk, to ask, to remind them. The answer was always the same: We havent had time, well do it later. Yet later never came. So I started handing them the mop and cleaning products directlyno blame, just silently. That didnt change anything. Once they spilled sauce on the tablecloth and left it untouched. Again, I ended up cleaning it all.
When I entered their room and saw the chaos, I couldnt stay silent:
Dont you mind living like this?
Louis, without a flicker of surprise, replied:
Geniuses thrive in chaos.
I see no genius in that messjust two grownups who find it convenient to live like pigs and expect their mother to serve them.
Louis promised to pitch ingroceries, bills. In reality, he only pays the utilities. He does the shopping once a week, but sushi, pizza, and other deliveries arrive almost daily. They offer to treat me, but it doesnt warm my heartthe fridge stays empty. With that money we could have fed the whole family.
Mathilde doesnt work; shes a student with a scholarship and never contributes a cent to groceries or cleaning. All of her money disappears on frivolities. When I suggested a modest share of the expenses, she shrugged, offended.
I raised Louis alone. His father left before he was born. My parents helped, I worked double, saved, did everything for him. I never blamed him, and I dont want to start now. Yet watching my apartment turn into a squalor I cant tolerate any longer.
I tried calm discussionsonce, twice, three times The outcome is clear: they wont change. They think Im an old nag, that I should be grateful they even tolerate me under the same roof.
Two months I held on. Thats enough. Ill tell them straight: either you get your act together, or you move to student housing. Maybe there theyll learn to respect others work and personal space.
Im fed up being their maid. I just want peace, no stress, no mountain of dirty dishes, no socks strewn across the kitchen.
What would you do? Should I risk a fight with my son, or keep turning a blind eye to this disaster in a home I built with my own hands?
My Son Has Turned into a Turmoil; My Daughter-in-Law Reflects His Mess. I’m Exhausted from Living in Their Chaos!
