No matter whether you have the best relationship with your in-laws or the worst, it's likely you don't want them to be living with you.
But one woman has found herself in a difficult position after her mother-in-law moved in with her family and seems to want to stay forever.
Writing anonymously on Mumsnet, the parent explained that she's in her 40s, married with two primary school-aged children.
She told how her mother-in-law had gone though a nasty divorce and been forced to sell her home - but she couldn't afford to buy another property in the area.
So she'd moved in with her son, but the woman has had enough of their living situation and wants to reclaim her 'dream home' for herself.
Her post read: "Am I being unreasonable to not want to live with my MIL?
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"She now lives with us and there's no other alternative as she has no money. However, I'm finding it harder to enjoy my home and worried it's going to break up my marriage.
"I'm the breadwinner although husband works. He does more childcare and housework as I work long hours. When I come home I want to relax and enjoy bedtime with the kids and an evening with husband without my MIL always being there.
"She hoards everything from her old house meaning we have bedrooms full of her boxes that we can't access.
"I just want to be a normal family with our own space and privacy."
If all this weren't enough, the woman goes on to say that she's feeling "resentful" that her mother-in-law is able to live without a job or any expenses in her house because of her good income.
She continued: "If I could go back I'd never say it was ok for her to live with us but now she has no means to live alone I guess I'm trapped.
"Husband knows where I'm coming from but neither of us can see an alternative. AIBU to want a home of my own without my MIL or am I selfish and just need to accept this is my life?
"Sometimes I feel like saying we need to sell up and buy two smaller properties (one for her) but this is our dream home and I've worked bloody hard to get where I am professionally and I don't want to move because she made bad financial decisions."
More than 200 people responded to the post, with many encouraging the woman to get the MIL out.
One person replied: "Housing associations/local council may help with sheltered accommodation. See if you can get her on the waiting list locally."
Another said: "Oh that is really tricky. Could you look at building her a granny annexe with its own little living room and kitchen, so she had her own space and so do you? I think it's such a difficult one because if it were my mum I'd have her move in with us in a heartbeat, but having my MIL living with us would be really hard for me (even though she is absolutely lovely)."
A third wrote: "Omg you bloody Saint. I’d be resentful too and it would end up destroying my marriage. Does DH have any siblings? Can’t she go spend at least part of the year with them and be a travelling MIL?"
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments below.
