Woman Gets Hated On By In-Laws For Decades, They’re Shocked When She Doesn’t Let Them Move In

In-laws – can’t live with them, can’t banish them to another dimension. While some are kind and sweet, others treat you like their go-to punching bag for passive-aggressive comments, unsolicited opinions, and generational grudges. Between boundary bulldozing and a level of entitlement usually reserved for royalty, in-law relationships can get spicy.

“Mi casa es su casa” doesn’t apply when your mother-in-law suddenly decides your house is her retirement plan, especially if she’s been treating you like the evil stepmom from every Disney movie from day one, just like our Redditor’s mother-in-law did.

More info: Reddit

Some in-laws bring pie when they visit, others bring entitlement with a side of passive aggression

Three people sitting on a couch, smiling in a cozy home setting.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

One woman refuses to allow her in-laws to move in with her and her husband and take care of them after decades of being insulted and mistreated

Text image discussing MIL and DIL conflict over living arrangements, seeking advice on an anonymous forum.

Text about a long-term relationship and family milestones starting from teenage years.

Text describing a tense relationship between MIL and DIL, with feelings of exclusion and going no contact.

Text about children leaving home, parents downsizing, reflecting MIL and DIL relationship dynamics.

Text discussing plans for a designated room for visiting children, supported by both children.

Elderly couple standing together in a cozy living room, next to a window with curtains.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Despite building a family with her husband, the woman’s mother-in-law always excluded her and never truly saw her as a family

Text discussing MIL's expectation to live with son's family for care; husband surprised by obligation to care for elders.

Text discussing MIL being retired, not financially burdened, and caregiving as a mental and physical burden.

Text reveals a family dispute as MIL demands care; DIL refuses, citing previous treatment issues.

Text asking if saying no to MIL living with them makes them wrong.

Elderly woman with blonde hair on a blue phone, pondering a difficult conversation about care responsibilities.

Image credits: freepik / Freeipk (not the actual photo)

The couple are planning to downsize for retirement, but the mother-in-law goes ballistic when she hears the news, as she was expecting to move in with them

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Text discussing cultural norms for caring for elderly parents.

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Text message discussing MIL's treatment explaining why she can't live with them.

Text dialogue discussing care options, DIL reluctant to care for MIL, considers assisted living due to family dynamics.

Text excerpt of MIL calling DIL "white devil" over racial differences.

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The woman refuses to allow her in-laws to move in and care for them as they demand because of the way they treated her for 20 years

The OP (original poster) and her husband have been together since they were 16, got married young, had kids young, and now those kids are off living their best grown-up lives. They were finally ready to downsize, relax, and maybe even nap in peace. But the OP’s mother-in-law had other plans for them.

She and her father-in-law were planning to move in once the daughter went off to college. Say what now? Yup, apparently, the mother-in-law assumed, without a single conversation, might I add, that they’d be taken in because, culturally, it’s common for adult children to care for their elders.

Only, she forgot one teeny tiny detail: she treated her daughter-in-law like expired tofu for the past two decades. I’m talking cold shoulders at family events, deliberate exclusions from holidays, and even refusing to acknowledge the OP as part of the family.

So, what did she do? She went no contact with her in-laws and the extended crew, and hubby went low contact. Boundaries, people. They’re a beautiful thing.

Now, with both parents healthy, retired, financially stable, and clearly bored, the mother-in-law decided it was time to claim her prize – a fully furnished home and a free live-in caregiver in the shape of the OP. But our Redditor and her husband shut that fantasy down real quick, telling the in-laws to find somewhere else to live.

The mother-in-law did not take it well and started a family smear campaign, complete with guilt-tripping and name-calling. But the final cherry on this already ridiculous sundae? The mother-in-law calls her daughter-in-law a “white devil.” Charming, right?

Man and woman sitting at a kitchen table with cups, appearing bored and pensive.

Image credits: Wavebreak Media / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Some folks are just clueless that way. Or maybe just entitled? You don’t get to treat someone like an outsider for 20 years and then expect free room and board. Entitlement is that sneaky little mindset where someone genuinely believes the world and all the people in it owe them something.

It’s not just about wanting things; it’s about believing one deserves them just because. Entitled people often have a buffet of reasons for their absurd demands. This attitude usually starts in childhood when someone is treated like the sun and the stars and somehow ends up believing they deserve better than others.

But see, that doesn’t work on everyone. While some folks just give in to entitled people’s ridiculous requests to avoid conflict, others set boundaries early on. Setting boundaries with family is not just necessary; it’s essential for your sanity. They help protect your time, energy, and well-being from being crushed by guilt trips, uninvited opinions, and unexpected moving trucks.

When you encounter an entitled person in the wild, be clear, calm, and consistent. Whether it’s limiting phone calls, saying no to surprise visits, or shutting down backhanded compliments with a smile and a “Let’s not go there,” boundaries teach people how to treat you. And guess what? Healthy families respect them, even if it takes a few awkward conversations and some practice rounds.

What do you think of this story? If you were in the poster’s shoes, what would your welcome mat say? Drop your thoughts and comments below!

Netizens side with the woman, saying she is not a jerk for refusing to take care of her in-laws after the way they excluded her from the family

Reddit comment questioning a mother-in-law's demand for elderly care despite decades of dislike.

Reddit comment discussing a DIL refusing care for a MIL after years of mistreatment.

Comment on family conflict, discussing history and respect dynamics between MIL and DIL.

A Reddit user's comment discussing family dynamics and cultural expectations in a relationship.

MIL-DIL tension; MIL demands care despite decades of conflict. DIL refuses, citing past treatment.

Text message on in-law relationship challenges and caregiver refusal.

Reddit comment about outdated customs and enjoying empty nest, related to MIL and DIL conflict.

Reddit comment discussing family dynamics related to a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law’s strained relationship.

Comment about MIL demanding care from DIL despite their decades-long conflict.

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