My mother-in-law drops by unannounced with our spare key
Editors' DilemmaOctober 28, 2026· Be the first to vote
A story made up by our editors to get the debate going, not a real account.
My side
When we moved in, we gave my mother-in-law a key, “for emergencies.” She lives ten minutes away. Since then, there’s been an emergency about once a week. She stops by while we’re at work to “water the plants.” Our plants are fake. She knows that. Sometimes she leaves a casserole in the fridge, which is sweet, and sometimes she folds our laundry, which is weirder. One day, I came home early and found her watching TV on our couch, with a cup of tea. I asked my husband to get the key back. He thinks I’m overreacting.
Their side
My husband explains that his mom has been bored since she retired, that she means no harm, and that she’s doing us a favor. The casseroles are delicious, and folded laundry is one less chore. According to him, taking the key back would feel like a punishment to her. He suggests asking her to text before coming over instead.
So, who's wrong?
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