Roommate allows elderly mom to visit, refuses to tell her which food and toiletries she can and can't use: 'I put a handwritten note in the fridge'

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  • An elderly woman wearing glasses prepares food in the kitchen
  • Am I wrong for putting signs up because my roommate's elderly mom is visiting and eating my food, throwing away my things, and using my toiletries?

    I love my roommate but I am not having this. I budget my food spend down to the dollar and today when I got home I found that my roommate's visiting elderly mother had eaten one of my breakfast meals.
  • She also threw away my bag that I use to bring stuff to work. Threw trash on my one square foot of counter space under one cabinet that I have in the kitchen.
  • And guessing by the fact that all my shower toiletries were rearranged, likely used my shower toiletries too.
  • The hands of an older woman cutting bread on a chopping board
  • Her mother is 83 and seems like she is all there (she traveled across the country on her own).
  • When I politely asked my roommate if she could let her mom know which spaces are my spaces and food, her response was, "Oh, I am sure she can figure it out!" Her sister is also now arriving tonight and they are both staying with us for a week.
  • I decided to put a hand- written note in the fridge: "This is my name's half of the fridge, please do not eat this food :)" And put one on the cabinet/counter space "This is my name's cabinet and counter, please do not eat from here or throw things away :)" (that's where the bag was that she threw away).
  • I removed all my toiletries from the shower. My dad thinks "this is all small sh" and I am overreacting by even saying anything, but honestly it all bugs the crop out of me.
  • Toothbrush in a mug, toothpaste, and a bottle of soap next to a mirror
  • Electrical_Emu8386 NTA. Honestly your roommate is being a little bit of TA. How is her mom supposed to know whose food and toiletries are whose?
  • Ov0v0vO Original Poster's Reply Yeah like she just needs to have a quick convo with her mom, right? The right side of the fridge is mine and conveniently clearly delineated by built-in markings on the shelves and drawers, and the front half of the shower is mine. Roommate could easily say "the left side of the fridge is our stuff and the back half of the shower is our stuff."
  • Peaches_and_screamz I would be mortified if I was eating my kids roommates food and using their toiletries. NOR, your roommate should be on top of this not you. The counter save thing is the only weird thing imo though :/
  • Ov0v0vO Original Poster's Reply My roommate is extremely clutter- y and has literally every counter top covered in food pantry items. The kitchen counter space is largely unusuable. She cleared off this one isolated 12×12 counter- island as a courtesy to me, that has a cabinet above it and below it. That's my one space in the kitchen to use. whole big a
  • just--me--123 NOR It's your property. Period. If her mom or sister get confused, labeling things should help. If you need to put your name on individual items than do it. We label everything in our shared space including type of food and expiration dates when we're cooked. It should be helpful. What if the products you keep in the bathroom had medications in them or allergens? Labeling protects everyone.
  • PcLvHpns Just put all your stuff in your room until they're gone.
  • Repulsive_Sun6549 It would be better to just calmly and directly tell her what you want. Notes are sort of passive agressive. If she still does it, put your foot down and say DON'T. After that: If she can't abide by the rules in a house where she's a guest, ask her to leave and tell your roomie that that's how you feel. How long's she staying?
  • Raspberry_201 Tbh, i'd put like a little color code or something too. elderly or not, boundaries matter
  • Next-Equivalent7197 Exactly, mind readers dont exist, labels fix dumb confusion
  • Phenix_Fresh NOR Who doesn't bring their own toiletries? If your dad says it's no big deal have him send you some money to get you through till they leave.

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