Woman Gets The Last Smirk After MIL Rearranged Her Home Behind Her Back: “I Learned From The Best”

At a young age, we all learn the golden rule: treat others the way you wish to be treated. It’s an essential life tenet that ensures we have a harmonious relationship with people as much as possible. 

Yet, some grow into adulthood without taking this fundamental principle to heart. This woman seems to be an example of this. After callously and sneakily turning her daughter-in-law’s home upside down, she ran amok after receiving the exact same treatment. 

Of course, people on the internet lauded the daughter-in-law’s actions, and you will see why as you read through.

A woman may have just learned a harsh lesson on respecting other people’s spaces

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law walking outdoors, each holding a coffee cup, sharing a moment together.

Image credits:  Danik Prihodko / Pexels (not the actual photo)

The conflict started with her daughter-in-law

Text excerpt discussing MIL and DIL relationship with mention of rearranged MIL’s furniture and long-term low contact.

Text excerpt about difficulties with MIL's behavior, describing attempts to please and eventual realization of a long game MIL played.

MIL rearranging furniture and belongings while DIL is away, highlighting the long game in their relationship conflict.

Young woman upset and crying indoors, symbolizing tension between MIL and DIL in a family conflict scenario.

Image credits: Blake Cheek / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Worse, the entitled woman appeared oblivious about what she had done wrong

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Text excerpt about a MIL and DIL conflict involving rearranged furniture and emotional reactions causing tension.

Text excerpt describing MIL’s disdain and subtle conflicts with DIL, highlighting rearranged MIL’s furniture as a long game tactic.

Text on a white background describing a MIL active in church and charity, illustrating the long game played by DIL.

Elderly woman in a beige sweater smiling outdoors, symbolizing MIL who played the long game with furniture rearrangement.

Image credits: Askar Abayev / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Knowing who she was dealing with, the daughter-in-law began devising a plan

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Text excerpt describing a wife’s plan involving a copy of a key to play the long game against MIL.

Text describing a daughter-in-law rearranging and cleaning her mother-in-law’s furniture and kitchen during a week off.

Woman packing and rearranging furniture and clothes in boxes, representing a long game played between MIL and DIL conflict.

Image credits: A. C. / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

She successfully exacted revenge without her husband knowing

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Text excerpt describing a family conflict where the daughter-in-law rearranged the mother-in-law’s furniture causing noticeable changes.

Older woman sitting on a chair looking frustrated in a living room, representing MIL thinking she won against DIL.

Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo) 

As she expected, her mother-in-law was furious

Text conversation showing a mother-in-law accusing daughter-in-law and husband of stealing her pictures during a furniture rearrangement.

Text excerpt about MIL and DIL conflict describing cleaning and rearranging furniture, highlighting the long game played.

Text showing a conflict where MIL is upset and DIL considers leaving, highlighting the rearranged MIL’s furniture long game.

Young woman in white shirt shrugging with a puzzled expression, illustrating MIL thinks she’s won against DIL conflict.

Image credits: Polina Zimmerman / Pexels (not the actual photo)

However, she does not regret her actions at all

Screenshot of text describing a daughter-in-law playing the long game against her mother-in-law by rearranging furniture.

Text excerpt reflecting MIL and DIL conflict with mention of rearranged MIL’s furniture in family dispute context.

Text on a grey background about rearranging MIL’s furniture and playing a long game against DIL in a supportive role.

Image credits: anonymous 

Overly critical and controlling mothers-in-law may feel judged, leading them to act the way they do

Woman in green sweater showing frustration and anger, representing MIL thinks she’s won against DIL tension and rearranging furniture.

Image credits: Engin Akyurt / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Reading the story, it appears as if the mother-in-law rearranged the woman’s furniture for no particular reason. But according to licensed counselor Chana Johnson, there are different underlying reasons. 

“If the daughter-in-law is making choices that are different from the choices she made, mothers-in-law can feel judged,” Johnson explained to Bored Panda. “Like the daughter-in-law is subtly implying that the way she did things was wrong, and that can cause friction.”

Johnson added that a mother-in-law with a strong, overbearing personality may be more controlling, especially if the daughter-in-law fails to set boundaries immediately. 

This is what appears to have happened in the story, as the author mentioned that her MIL had been interfering in their relationship for many years. 

On the topic of establishing boundaries, Johnson mentioned one key component: consistency. Apart from setting them at the start, maintaining those boundaries is just as important. 

“It doesn’t work when the husband/son undermines the effort by going back on what they’ve decided. If you agree to no longer tell (MIL) your plans because she’s controlling, he can’t go behind your back to tell her what you’re doing,” Johnson said. 

However, the spouse also plays a major role in such scenarios when dealing with his mother. As psychotherapist Marc Zola explains, husbands must make their wives the priority, not their mothers. 

“If the MIL is highly anxious or struggling with adapting to the new stage of life, this will reinforce the power imbalance (you can’t be neutral on a moving train),” he said. “It’s best to support your partner first and foremost.”

In the story, it’s not enough for the husband to simply agree that his mother is getting old and grumpy. He must be the one setting these boundaries more than his wife to avoid similar conflicts in the future. 

As for the woman, giving her MIL a taste of her own medicine may have been harsh. However, given the situation, it may have been the only way to effectively get her point across.

The author provided more information in the comments

Reddit conversation discussing MIL and DIL conflict with strategic long game and furniture rearrangement tactics.

Screenshot of an online discussion about MIL and DIL conflict, focusing on rearranging MIL’s furniture as a long game tactic.

Reddit conversation about rearranging MIL’s furniture and playing the long game in MIL vs DIL conflict.

Forum conversation about MIL and DIL relationship issues, with DIL sharing how she managed peace by limiting MIL contact.

Most readers applauded her act of pro revenge

Screenshot of a Reddit comment praising a post about a MIL and DIL revenge story, mentioning crossposting to r/prorevenge.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment comparing a clever move to MIL playing the long game in a family conflict.

Text conversation screenshot showing a user advising a clever comeback about choosing a nursing home in a MIL vs DIL conflict.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment praising a daughter-in-law for playing the long game against her mother-in-law.

Screenshot of a social media comment about a MIL and DIL conflict involving rearranged furniture as a long game strategy.

Text post with black text on a white background, joking about a person being someone's hero, related to MIL and DIL long game furniture rearrangement story.

Comment praising a story about a MIL playing the long game by rearranging MIL’s furniture as clever revenge.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing MIL and DIL conflict with a reference to rearranged furniture in a humorous context.

Reddit comment discussing MIL and DIL conflict, mentioning outplaying MIL and rearranging furniture as a long game strategy.

Screenshot of an online comment reading I love you, related to MIL and DIL long game interaction discussion.

Reddit comment expressing gratitude with humorous blessings referencing garden hose, salsa, llamas, and ramen.

Screenshot of an online comment with the phrase You. I like you. highlighting a MIL and DIL long game interaction.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment praising OP, related to MIL and DIL conflict about rearranged MIL furniture.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment praising a master level troll in a discussion about rearranging MIL’s furniture as part of a long game.

Screenshot of an online comment praising a satisfying moment in a story about MIL and DIL furniture rearrangement.

Text post discussing MIL and DIL conflict, highlighting how the daughter-in-law played the long game by rearranging MIL’s furniture.

Comment discussing a MIL who rearranged furniture and played the long game against her DIL in family dynamics.

Comment discussing playing the long game against MIL and rearranging MIL’s furniture in an online forum.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a MIL and DIL conflict, mentioning counter-trolling and MIL’s furniture rearrangement.

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Screenshot of a social media comment expressing strong positive feelings about a post involving MIL and DIL.

Screenshot of a comment praising a user’s confidence in the MIL and DIL long game with furniture rearrangement.

Comment praising a daughter-in-law for outsmarting her mother-in-law in a long game involving rearranging furniture.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment praising a user for cleverly rearranging MIL’s furniture in a long game against DIL.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment about a llama gaining five pounds, related to MIL playing the long game with furniture rearrangement.

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