When my mother-in-law moved in, she refused to lift a finger, insisting she was just a “guest.” Instead of arguing, I decided to give her exactly what she wanted—the full guest treatment. At first, I tried to stay calm. Linda moved in “for a little while,” according to my husband, Jason, but she quickly made herself at home. Dishes piled up, makeup covered the bathroom mirror, and she tossed her laundry in with mine. When I asked her to help, she smiled sweetly and said, “Oh honey, I’m just a guest!”
The breaking point came one Saturday morning when I caught her drinking my special coffee from my favorite mug—and leaving a mess behind. I didn’t yell. I smiled, because I had a better plan. The next morning, she woke up to a printed breakfast menu titled Family B&B. “Cereal, toast, or Chef’s Surprise?” I asked. She frowned but chose cereal.
Then came the “house rules.” The WiFi shut off at 11 p.m. “for security reasons.” I left “Housekeeping in Progress” signs wherever I cleaned her mess. Dinner? Replaced with takeout menus. Each day, she looked more annoyed, and I stayed perfectly polite.
By Sunday, she found an envelope on her dresser labeled Family B&B Invoice: “Laundry Service – $50, Maid Fee – $30, Coffee Supply – $20.” Outraged, she stormed into the kitchen demanding an explanation. I smiled. “Guests don’t clean, so they pay for service.”
Her face turned red. “I don’t feel welcome here anymore!” she snapped. Within a week, she moved out. The house was finally peaceful again. Jason admitted I was right, and I enjoyed my special coffee—alone and happy. Linda wanted to be treated like a guest. So I did—and she checked herself out.
