A Mother-In-Law’s History Of Cruelty Comes Back To Haunt Her When Caregiving Is Needed
One woman has put her foot down on caring for her cruel mother-in-law. Now the family is divided and tense.
When families hit a point where parents can’t live alone anymore, the first question usually becomes who steps up. That sounds simple on paper, but in real life the answer gets messy fast.
In this story, three brothers sat down to figure out where their aging parents would go. Money was tight, assisted living wasn’t an option, and everyone quietly hoped someone else would volunteer first.
The spotlight turned to one couple for a few reasons. Their home had the most space, including a separate apartment that guests used during visits.
The wife (OP) also has a background in nursing, even though she left full-time work to raise her kids and only picked up occasional shifts to keep her license active.
To the rest of the family, the choice seemed obvious. To her, it wasn’t even close.
Her relationship with her mother-in-law never sat right. There was a history of cold comments, disrespect, and behavior that she didn’t want her children around. They even limited visits to twice a year for that reason.
So when her brothers-in-law suggested moving their parents into her home, she made her answer clear. She didn’t want to bring that dynamic into her daily life.
The pushback hit immediately. Both brothers said their households couldn’t afford for their wives to stop working. They said she had the space, the skills, and the time.
However, she stood her ground and even suggested alternatives, but none fit their budgets. The tension only grew from there, and it didn’t stop until a later family dinner forced everyone to face reality and choose a different plan.
Scroll down to digest the full story.
Let’s dig into the details
Reddit.comA bit of backstory
Reddit.comOP bluntly refused MIL moving in with them because MIL has been mean to her over the years
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OP suggested a nursing home, insisting that her husband’s brother’s should take responsibility
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OP’s husband agrees with her, but thinks her delivery was harsh
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Answers to Questions:
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OP has dropped an update on the matter
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More info
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We gathered some comments from the Reddit community
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“NTA Assisted living isn't cheap, but the brothers contributing (equally) should total a decent amount.”
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“How about the brothers look after their parents!”
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“NTA. They decided before hand that they would pressure you and your husband to take your in-laws into your home.”
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“They can quit their jobs and take care of THEIR parents if they are so worried about them.”
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“NTA. The mother in law is reaping what she sowed.”
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“If she was bad before, she's gonna get 10 times worse as time goes by.”
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“You being harsh is you simply standing your ground. Which you have a valid reason to.”
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“You're not the one putting them in a tight spot, their parents are for not planning well for their future.”
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“Your BIL's are both complete AH for dumping the care of THEIR parents on you. Not even on your husband.”
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The Reddit community is fully behind OP on this matter. They have insisted that her husband’s brothers take charge of the situation themselves, rather than dumping MIL on her.
The fact that MIL has been mean to OP over the years makes it even harder for her to accept such a character in her personal space, especially around her children.
However, it was great to see that the family came to a compromise in the end. Regardless of what MIL has done, abandoning her in her old age can’t be an option.
What do you think about how this family handled everything? Tell us in the comments.
