The mother-in-law lived with us but didn’t clean because she considered herself a “guest.” I didn’t ask her to move out — the solution turned out to be much more elegant.
When the mother-in-law moved in with us, she immediately said she wouldn’t participate in household chores. She believed that since she was a “guest,” the housework didn’t concern her.
I tried to avoid conflicts. Instead, I decided to approach the situation with humor and a bit of creativity.
Initially, her visit was supposed to be temporary — she sold her apartment and was looking for a new one. My husband assured me it would be short-term. However, over time it became clear that the mother-in-law was in no hurry to move out.
She brought her own habits and rules into the house, not always considering that we are a young family with our own rhythm of life. I tried to be patient. But when she stopped cleaning up after herself, it really started to wear me out. The kitchen was often messy, and she mixed her laundry with ours, thinking I would wash everything anyway.
One day, when I asked her to put the towel in the laundry basket, she replied with a smile:
— I’m a guest after all. Guests aren’t asked to take care of the house.
My husband didn’t interfere either. He wanted his mother to feel comfortable. But I realized I had to set some boundaries — gently, without arguments.
And then I had an idea.
The next morning, I left a printed “breakfast menu” by her bed, like in a hotel, with the simplest dishes. I added the note: “Welcome to the family guesthouse!”
When she came to the kitchen, surprised by the gesture, I calmly said:
— Since you’re a guest, I decided to provide you with true hotel service.
For dinner, I stopped cooking. Instead, I left a menu from local restaurants with delivery on her nightstand. In the bathroom, I hung signs saying “Cleaning in progress” to show how much work it takes to keep things tidy.
Finally, after a few days, I placed a “bill” on her dresser for symbolic services: laundry, cleaning, shopping — of course, it was just a friendly joke.
The reaction was intense. But interestingly, right after that conversation, the mother-in-law herself said she was ready to move out.
We said goodbye politely, without resentment. My husband admitted that I acted wisely — without arguing, simply showing the situation from a different perspective.
Now the house is peaceful again. And every time I pour my morning coffee, I smile — not because I won the argument, but because I maintained respect and order.
This story is fictional, and any resemblance to real events or people is purely coincidental.
