One mother feels she is being 'taken for granted' by her daughter and son-in-law after she showed hospitality to the pair. The anonymous woman told a story of being taken advantage of regularly.
The mother's daughter and her husband have been seemingly taking liberties at the woman's expense despite branching out on their own including walking in to her house at 'any time of the day or night', reports the Mirror.
Her daughter, who is now 30 years old, wanted to move back in to her family home 'rent free' in an attempt to save money to buy their own home and set up a new business venture together.
But the mum has grown increasingly concerned at the liberties being taken by the couple.
She took to parent forum NetMums to say: "My son-in-law has a house they had been living in, which he was able to rent out when they moved in with us - this gave them their living expenses whilst they set up a new business together."
The kindness and sharing wasn't particularly reciprocated as the mum provided meals, furniture and household items on top of some financial support but the pair couldn't even invite her and her husband to their housewarming party.
She added: "The issue is about a complete lack of appreciation. They say thank you at the time they know to say it, but nothing more - they haven't so much as cooked us a meal in the past six years.
"They haven't contributed to housework either. We were particularly hurt when they didn't invite us to their recent housewarming party."
The mother seems to be at her wit's end and is considering setting some key boundaries.
She added: "Despite them stepping into their independent life, they still expect to walk into our house at any time of the day or night to borrow things or ask for things they want. We repeatedly feel used and taken for granted.
"After the most recent liberty, I'm thinking of removing the key from the key safe, so they can't get in when we're out or asleep. Is this petty point scoring, or appropriate setting of some boundaries, after I feel they have taken our generosity for granted for too long? I would love to hear what other parents of grown-up children think."
In response fellow parents said the issue must be met head on and that some home truths are overdue with the pair.
One wrote: "Rather than just removing the key from the key safe you need to sit them down and talk to them like the adults they are and tell them that they are now independent adults and need to act as such.
"By letting them move in and you doing all the cooking/cleaning/running around for them you allowed them to be the adolescents they were when they were last living at home. You made the mistake of not apportioning a share of the jobs and the bills to them back at the start.
"I think if you just remove the key from the box you are risking them feeling rejected without knowing that what you need now is privacy, you've done your bit and now you need your home back....then take the key out of the box or change the code."
Another was particularly angry at the housewarming snub: "You weren't invited to their housewarming? Why not? I would flip my lid, to be honest, how ungrateful. Remove the key, and tell them it's your home not a free hotel for them to come and go as they please, that may make them open their eyes to the fact they've behaved like selfish, spoilt children. I'd be raging."
One user was more measured and added: "I personally would sit down and let them know how you feel. Sounds like you have a good enough relationship with them enough for it not to get bitter and hopefully they will understand why you are upset."
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