Mother's several-week stay at 26-year-old son's apartment turns into a 4-month residency, he refuses to let her stay any longer: ‘I'm starting to feel like a guest in my own home’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Nov 7, 2025 4:00 PM EST

Your space is your space, and nobody can take that away from you—except for your mother.

When our parents brought us into the world, most of them provided for us in every way they knew how. They sacrificed precious time, aspirations, careers, and more to ensure we had the life we deserved. When they come into old age, they might be seeking support from the children they supported so long ago; there's nothing wrong with this. We all need help sometimes, and who is more deserving of a helping hand than our parents?

That's the key point here. A helping hand is exactly what it sounds like: A helping hand. We cannot be beholden to a lifetime of care for an irresponsible parent who doesn't want to get their life together, though.

The 26-year-old in this next story recently moved out of his childhood home and into a small one-bedroom apartment. Their mother recently moved in temporarily because she and her boyfriend broke up. Couch-crashing for a few weeks? No problem. Well, this has turned into a few months, and now, he has had enough. He doesn't even feel at home in his space anymore, which is the last straw. Scroll below to read about his mother's reaction.

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  • 01
    middle aged woman sitting in a chair
    via Keith Tanner for Unsplash

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    "AITA for refusing to let my mom move in with me even though she says she has nowhere else to go?"

    My name is mark, 26 years old, finally got my own apartment last year after saving for years.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 03
    It's a small one- bedroom place, nothing fancy, but it's mine and it's the first time I've ever really had privacy.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 04
    My mom, she is 52 years old recently broke up with her boyfriend and had to move out of his house.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 05
    She called me crying, saying she didn't have anywhere to go and asked if she could stay for a few weeks.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 06
    Of course, I said yes, she's my mom. But it's been four months. She hasn't looked for a new place, doesn't help with groceries, and has started treating my apartment like it's hers.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 07
    She rearranged my furniture, keeps commenting on my food choices, and even tried to throw away some of my stuff because it looked old.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 08
    I've gently brought it up a few times, but every time I do, she gets emotional and says things like, "Wow, after all I did for you, now you're kicking me out?" or "You'd let your own mother be homeless?" Last week, she invited two of her friends over while I was at work without even asking.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 09
    I came home to people sitting on my couch drinking wine. That's when I told her we needed to set a deadline for her to move out.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 10
    She cried and said I've changed and that she can't believe how cold I've become. My sister thinks I'm being heartless, but she lives two hours away and isn't offering to take Mom in either.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 11
    I love my mom, but just can't live like this anymore. I'm starting to feel like a guest in my own home.
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 12
    a man sitting at a table with his hands on his head
    via Andrej Lišakov For Unsplash+

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    AITA for asking my mom to move out even though she says she has nowhere to go?
    via PaleTotal6379
  • 14
    opine704 NTA She DOES have somewhere to go - sister's house. Or how 'bout those friends who were drinking wine on your sofa? Or her own place. She's had zero rent for 4 months = she should have a nice deposit saved up for a rental. She has overstayed, overstepped, and under performed.
    via opine704
  • 15
    dell828 BLAME THE LANDLORD... Tell her she is not on your lease, and needs to leave, as you are allowed guests, but she is no longer a guest, and you are now potentially violating your lease, and could be kicked out.
    via dell828
  • 16
    Odd_Tea4945 Your mom has "nowhere to go" because she hasn't looked for where to go in 4 months. I think she's quite comfortable at your place, she's making it hers and she's very comfortable not paying for a thing. And she's guilt tripping you
    via Odd_Tea4945
  • 17
    If you want my honest opinion, this will go bad for you. She might even say that you're the one that needs to find another place, because she made your home hers
    via Odd_Tea4945
  • 18
    If I was in your shoes, I'd give her a deadline. She's going to guilt trip you over and over and you can answer her is not healthy for anyone that you two live together, that she needs her own space to do whatever she likes and you also need your space
    via Odd_Tea4945
  • 19
    ReadMeDrMemory NTA. She's an adult. It was good of you to take her in temporarily, but she needs to find accommodation of her own, not just take over yours.
    via ReadMeDrMemory
  • 20
    VFM001 Nta. She's never leaving if you don't help her find the door. Give her a lift to your sister's place and wish them well...
    via VFM001
  • 21
    Ti yBaker_ NTA but she's manipulating the hell out of you. I'm going to be a little mean here but it sounds like you need it.
    via Ti**yBaker_
  • 22
    Mom does not have your best interests at heart like she should. Instead she's taking advantage of you and everything you've worked for. I'm going to go as far as calling this abuse between the emotional manipulation and financial aspect. Especially with the flying monkey sister involved, who you should be asking when she's taking her turn hosting any time she tries to start with you.
    via Ti**yBaker_
  • 23
    You need to stand up for yourself and make her leave. The timeline isn't going to work. Her reaction to that conversation after 4 months of freeloading is proof enough of that. It's time for her to go. She might be your mother but she's not supposed to be your problem.
    via Ti**yBaker_

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family dynamics family drama entitled parents entitlement reddit story family feud parenting entitled family reddit thread parent Reddit Parenting Fail parents entitled people Parenting FAILS
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