AITA for not sharing food with husbands mom living rent-free?

AITA for not sharing food with husband's mom living rent-free? Tension arises as personal boundaries are challenged - Reddit users weigh in on respecting autonomy in shared living.

Damjan

Published in Interesting
July 29, 2025

AITA for not sharing food with husbands mom living rent-free?

Are you the jerk for not wanting to share your food with your mother-in-law who's living with you rent-free? Picture this: you're a hardworking individual like the rest of us, whipping up a delicious dinner after a taxing day, only to have your portion snatched away by your husband to feed his mom.

Frustrating, right? This Reddit user, let's call her OP, finds herself in a culinary conundrum.

OP, a devoted grocery shopper and chef, feels her personal food boundaries have been trespassed upon as her husband casually shares her meals with his mom, who doesn't contribute financially. Tensions rise as the OP's rightful frustrations are dismissed as stinginess.

The question looms: where does one draw the line between generosity and personal space in a shared household? Reddit's verdict is clear: OP is not the bad guy here.

The community emphasizes the importance of mutual respect, open communication, and setting boundaries in shared living spaces. The consensus?

It's crucial for OP's husband to acknowledge and honor her autonomy, especially when it comes to her meals. The discussion unfolds, shedding light on the nuances of relationships and shared living arrangements.

Original Post

So I'm (34F), and I live with my husband, Tom (36M). His mom, Betty, has been living with us rent-free for the past year since she retired.

She doesn't contribute financially but helps with some household chores. Recently, I've noticed a dilemma arising around food.

I buy groceries and cook meals primarily for Tom and me. However, whenever I prepare something, Tom keeps offering it to his mom, assuming I don't mind sharing.

One night, after a long day at work, I made a delicious dinner for myself. As I sat down to eat, Tom took half of my portion without asking and offered it to his mom.

I was already hungry and looking forward to that meal, so I felt upset and still hungry afterward. When I expressed my frustration to Tom, he called me stingy for not wanting to share with his mom.

This led to tension between us. I feel like my personal boundaries are being disregarded, especially since Betty doesn't contribute to the groceries or cooking.

I understand she lives with us, but I believe there should be some respect for each other's personal space and belongings, including food. So, Reddit, am I the a*****e for refusing to share my food with my husband's mom who lives with us rent-free and feeling upset when my dinner was given away without my consent?