I read a story on Reddit about a man who’s dealing with a tough situation involving his wife’s mom (62F) and her potential eviction. The man (mid-30s) explained that his mother-in-law has been a source of endless drama. She’s burned bridges with family, stolen money, sabotaged relationships, and even started a fire in her previous apartment out of spite.
Now, she’s being evicted and has turned to his wife (35F) for help, claiming she has “nobody else.” Without consulting him, his wife immediately offered to let her move in. However, their house is small, they have two young kids, and they’re determined to keep their home a drama-free zone. The idea of her mom moving in felt like a nightmare to him, and he told his wife, “I’d rather your mom be homeless than let her move in with us.”
Unsurprisingly, his wife was furious and called him heartless. He tried to offer a compromise by suggesting they help pay for a short-term rental or look into senior housing options. His wife, however, insisted that it’s “family or nothing.” Now he’s wondering if he’s wrong for setting this boundary.
“NTA. Allowing anyone to move into your home is a two ‘yes’ discussion. One ‘no’ vote is all it takes to put the kibosh on the idea. Your wife needs to have the scales fall from her eyes to see the harsh truth about her mother. Offering assistance to help her transition to another short-term residence was more than generous and a good compromise.”
“Well said. You can support the MIL without being in direct contact with her poison. Please do not give in. You will regret it forever.”
This story raises tough questions about balancing family obligations and protecting your peace. What do you think is he wrong for standing his ground, or is his wife being unreasonable by not considering the bigger picture?