How My Mother-in-Law Ended Up Homeless – The Story of Family Drama, Sibling Favouritism, and the Battle Over Who Deserves a Home

How My Mother-in-Law Ended Up Without a Home

I am quite certain that it was never our duty to support my brother-in-law and his family, let alone rent a home for them. Let me begin by saying that Im the owner of our three-bedroom flat in London, where we live to this day. I bought it, in a dreadful state, long before I married my husband. You can imagine what it looked like: the front door was simply leaning against the frame rather than properly attached. Still, I was pleased with the price, and the rest I restored bit by bit. But that’s not really the point of this tale.

By the time I met my husband, I had already finished renovations in two rooms and furnished them somewhat. All in all, it was becoming quite comfortable.

My husband, tall and striking, was living in a rented place at the time. Mere months after we met, he moved in with me. After our wedding, we turned one room into a nursery. First, we had a boy, then our little girl soon followed.

Life couldnt have been better until, one chilly autumn evening, our tranquility was shattered with the arrival of my mother-in-law. She showed up on our doorstep, tearful and dragging along a pair of suitcases.

Could I stay with you for a while? she pleaded, sniffling. My youngest sons brought a girl home and moved her into my flat. I do hope itll work out between them. Perhaps shell be his wife, and theyll build a long life together I wont stay long. Ill help you with the children, collect them from nursery and school, cook meals for them. Ive no one else but you.

She sobbed, so we let her in, giving her the largest bedroom. My husbands mother had long been retired and was true to her wordshe looked after the children and rarely visited her own flat, where the youngest son was now trying to set up home. He lived therea small one-bedroomin London with his new wife and two kids: one theirs together, the other was hers from before.

Many years back, my brother-in-law had married one of his classmates soon after finishing school. My husbands parents sold their home and put the proceeds towards a small flat for themselves and a two-bedroom one for their son. Not long after, my father-in-law fell ill and sadly passed away.

My brother-in-law and his first wife had two children, but after they divorced he left the flat to his former wife and their kids. Now she lives there with her new husband and three children.

Once divorced, my brother-in-law moved back in with his mother. He told her, Mum, Ill stay with you a while. Im free now and dreaming of new beginnings! Ill sort myself out, maybe even find a place. But, as with so many things in life, it didnt turn out as he hoped. Some months later, he brought his new girlfriend to share his mothers flat.

Every weekend, my mother-in-law would fetch her sons children by both marriages, as well as others from the extended family. Our house, quite frankly, became utter chaosa true madhouse.

A year went by, and eventually, we told my mother-in-law shed need to sort out her own living arrangements. She reacted with more floods of tears and hysterics.

I ended up confronting my brother-in-law, insisting that it was time to move out from their mothers flat. He flatly refused, arguing he had children and a modest salary, so couldnt possibly pay for rent. As if it were for me to solve!

My relationship with my husbands mother had soured considerably by then. I dreaded coming home after work. I told my husband he must settle the housing problem for his mother, or Id have no choice but to file for divorce.

My words left my husband stunned. He honestly didnt know what to dohe couldnt bring himself to turn his mother out onto the street.

I suggested she take a small flat, as we could afford one, thankfully. But my mother-in-law was adamant. She refused to live in a rented place and demanded instead that we rent a two-bedroom for my brother-in-law and his family, so she could return to her own home.

I found this outrageous and told her that if she didnt leave within the week, Id put all her things out in the hallway. What else could I do?

I can’t see why we should feel obliged to support my brother-in-laws family, let alone provide them with a place to live!