'She moves in, I move out. Full stop': New homeowners sideswiped when their mother-in-law announces she's moving in to their spare room, putting the couple on blast at Thanksgiving

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 4, 2025 1:00 PM EST

Buying your first home is so exciting. New homeowners dream of what they'll do with the extra rooms, debating game rooms, home theaters, or a nursery for their future offspring. One thing that new homeowners never imagine in their freshly ordained space is their mother-in-law, rooting herself as a permanent resident in their upstairs guest room.

For better or worse, we all try to love our parents, but when this woman overstepped her welcome, she made her son and his wife think twice about their family loyalties. 

After a rousing day of cooking and with a full tummy of turkey, new homeowners, a son and his wife, were put on the spot by their mother-in-law, her son and his wife, on the spot. She loudly got everyone's attention at the table and was proud to announce that she'd broken her lease and started packing. Where was she moving? Everyone wondered. But when she exclaimed she was moving into their "unused" guest room, jaws dropped so fast they shattered the dirty dishes on the Thanksgiving table. 

So with that intrusive news dropped, who's ready for dessert?

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  • Fubaryall "She moves in, I move out!" Full stop.
    via Fubaryall

  • Personally, I agree with this guy. No mother-in-law should impose themselves on the lives of their children, especially when they've only just gotten their first place together. Those early moments in a marriage, and as homeowners, is a critical and irreplaceable time in their lives, and they shouldn't have to worry about hurting the feelings of their freeloading MIL. 

    Then again, you can be the judge of this particular family drama.

  • Bad mother in law watching her son argue with his wife
    via katarzynabialasiewicz

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

  • My MIL announced at family dinner that she's moving in with us and we never agreed to this
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • TL;DR: MIL announced at family dinner in front of everyone that she's moving into our house. We never discussed or agreed to this. She's already told her landlord she's leaving
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • and started packing. Entire family is pressuring us to "not make her homeless" even though she made this decision unilaterally. MIL keeps texting about furniture for "her room."
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Am I crazy or is this completely insane? My husband Derek (34M) and I (32F) bought our first house about 6 months ago. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath. We've been fixing it up, making it our own. We love it.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • We were at Derek's parents' house for Sunday dinner. The whole family was there, like 15 people. Derek's mom Linda was talking about how her apartment lease is coming up and she's thinking about downsizing.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Then she just casually announces "So I've decided I'm going to move in with Derek and Riley! Isn't that wonderful?"
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  • Everyone started clapping and congratulating us. Derek's dad said "That's so generous of you two." Derek's sister said "Oh mom will love having that extra bedroom!"
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  • Derek and I just looked at each other. We never discussed this. She never asked. She just announced it to the entire family like it was already decided.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Mother in law looking at a young couple
    via katarzynabialasiewicz

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

  • I tried to speak up but Linda was already talking about how she's been packing, how she told her landlord she's not renewing, how excited she is to "help around the house" and "spend more time with her son."
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • After dinner I pulled Derek aside and said we need to talk to your mom. We never agreed to this. He said "I know, I was shocked too. We'll talk to her."
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • We tried. We really did. We pulled Linda aside and Derek said "Mom, we appreciate the thought but we haven't talked about this. We're not ready for a roommate."
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Linda's face crumpled. She started crying. Said she thought family took care of family. That she's getting older and lonely. That we have "that extra bedroom just sitting empty" and she "wouldn't be any trouble."
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Derek tried to stay firm but she kept crying and saying she'd already told her landlord and started packing and what was she supposed to do now?
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Derek's dad came over and said "You're really going to make your mother homeless?" She's not going to be homeless. She has two months left on her lease. She
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • can renew it or find another apartment. But apparently I'm the villain for not wanting my MIL to move into our house without asking.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Since Sunday, Linda has texted me furniture dimensions asking what will fit in "her room." She sent paint color samples. She asked about closet space.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • The family group chat is full of people congratulating us for "taking in" Linda and saying how sweet we are. When I try to say we didn't actually agree to this, people act like I'm being cold.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Derek's sister called and said "Just let her stay. She's lonely and you have the space. Why are you being so difficult?"
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Derek is stressed. He knows we didn't agree to this but he feels guilty telling his mom no when she's already committed to leaving her apartment.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • I feel like I'm going crazy. She ANNOUNCED she was moving in. To our house. Without asking. And now everyone is acting like WE'RE the bad guys for not welcoming this with open arms.
    via South_Bandicoot_8967
  • Signal-Candy7724 . Volunteer someone else to take her in. That is absolutely insane and rude of her to do. No consideration or respect for you and your husband whatsoever. Absolutely not. Do not let her move in. Stand firm, because once she gets away with this it will escalate.
    via Signal-Candy7724

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homeowner new homeowners mother in law family
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