Woman Stresses About the Future of Her Marriage After Mother-in-Law Moves in and Tests Her 'Firm Boundaries'
A woman is venting on Reddit after her mother-in-law moved in and started asserting herself
The poster is upset over how her MIL has weighed in on marriage squabbles and reorganized the house
Now, she's wondering how she can move forward while saving her marriage, tooA woman is taking to the Internet for advice after her mother-in-law moved in — and seemingly won't stop inserting herself into "every aspect" of her family's life.
In a since-deleted post shared to Reddit, the woman explains that she and her husband have been married for five years, and have had a "generally happy relationship."
"However, things took a turn when my mother-in-law moved in with us six months ago," she writes. "She had some health issues and couldn't afford to live alone anymore, so my husband and I agreed to take her in. I knew it would be an adjustment, but I never expected it to take such a toll on our marriage."
Since moving in, the woman's mother-in-law "has inserted herself into every aspect of our lives," she describes. "She constantly critiques how I cook, how I clean, and even how I dress. She insists on being involved in our arguments, always taking my husband's side. She also has a habit of 'reorganizing' the house to her liking, despite me repeatedly asking her not to."
The "final straw" came when the woman "started making comments about our plans to have kids, suggesting that she would take over childcare because she knows 'better.' "
"I snapped and told her, very firmly, that this is our home, our marriage, and that she needs to respect our boundaries," the poster writes. "I also told my husband that if things don't change, we need to start looking for alternative living arrangements for her."
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Now, the woman's husband is upset, saying she was too harsh and that his mother "means well."
"His family thinks I'm being selfish, but my own friends and family say I have every right to push back," she adds in the post. "I don't want to be the villain, but I also refuse to let my home life be dictated by someone who wasn't even supposed to live with us permanently."
Reddit commenters are sympathizing with the woman, and arguing that a new living arrangement might make the most sense.
"Your MIL is way out of line, and setting boundaries in your own home is totally fair," writes one commenter. "She's not just overstepping, she's straight-up disregarding you. Your husband brushing it off as her meaning well doesn't make it okay. If she can't respect your space and your marriage, then finding her another living situation makes complete sense."
Some are commiserating, too. "Living with an aging parent is tough," adds another, "and it can go on for much longer than you ever dreamed."
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