How My Mother-in-Law Ended Up Without a Home
I’m convinced we have absolutely no obligation to support my brother-in-law and his family, let alone rent them a flat. Just to set the record straight, I own the three-bedroom flat we currently live in. I bought it in a dreadful state, well before my husband and I got married. Imagine it: the front door literally leaning against the frame when I first saw it. But the price was right, and I took on the rest bit by bit. Thats not really the point here, though.
By the time I met my husband, I’d already sorted out two of the bedrooms and even managed to get some furniture in there. The place had become pretty comfortable, all things considered.
My husband is a tall, attractive man who, back then, was renting a place across town. Just a few months into dating, he moved in with me. After we married, we turned one of the bedrooms into a nursery. I had a little boy first, and then a girl.
Everything was idyllic until one chilly October night, when my mother-in-law appeared, suitcase in hand, sobbing at our door.
“Could I possibly stay with you for a while? My sons brought some woman into my flat. Im hoping everything works out between themmaybe shell be his wife and they’ll be happy together forever I wont stay long, honestly. Ill help you out, pick the children up from nursery and school, and cook for them. I havent anyone but you!”
She was weeping, so of course we let her in, giving her the largest bedroom. My husbands mother had been retired for years and, just as she promised, she took care of the children. Meanwhile, she stayed away from her own flat, as my husbands younger brother was living there, making a new life for himself. He was shacked up with his new wife and two childrenone theirs, and the other his wife had from before.
Years ago, my brother-in-law had married his school sweetheart and, soon afterwards, my in-laws sold their home. The proceeds went towards a studio flat for themselves and a two-bedroom flat for their son. Not long after, my father-in-law fell ill and passed away.
My brother-in-law and his first wife had two kids and then divorced. He left his flat to his family; now, his ex lives there with her new husband and three children. After their split, he moved back in with his mum.
Mum, Ill stay with you for a while. Now Im free and have big plans! Ill get myself sorted, find a place of my own. But, somehow, he never did. In fact, after a few months, he turned up at his mothers with a new girlfriend in tow.
Every weekend, my mother-in-law started bringing all the grandchildrenchildren from her sons first and second marriagesover to our place. The house became absolutely chaotic.
A year went by, and finally we told my mother-in-law she needed to sort out her living situation. Once again, she burst into tears and had a complete meltdown.
I had to speak directly to my brother-in-law, telling him it was high time he moved out of their mothers flat. He flatly refused. He said he had kids and a low wage, so he couldnt possibly afford to rent anywhere. What am I supposed to do about that?
Recently, things between my mother-in-law and me have really deteriorated. I dread going home after work. I decided to have a word with my husband, telling him he had to deal with his mothers living situationor else I would file for divorce.
My words threw him completelyhe had absolutely no idea where his mother could go; he couldnt just turn her out on the street.
I told him she could rent herself a small studio flatwe have the means, after all. But my mother-in-law flat-out refused to move into a rented place. Instead, she insisted we should pay to rent a two-bedroom flat for my brother-in-law and his family, while she would take her flat back.
I found that totally out of order and told her that if she didnt move out within a week, Id simply put her things out in the hall. What else could I do?
I really dont believe its our responsibility to support my brother-in-laws family, let alone provide them with a home!
