My mother-in-law, Linda, moved in claiming she was just a “guest” and refused to help with chores. Jason assured me it would only be for a little while, but she quickly overstayed her welcome. She left messes everywhere and never cleaned up after herself, expecting me to do it all. Jason didn’t enforce any rules, saying she should be comfortable in her son’s house.

One Saturday, Linda drank the last of my special coffee and ignored the messy dishes she left behind. Instead of confronting her, I decided to treat her exactly like a guest. I gave her a breakfast menu with limited options and cut off the WiFi at night to disrupt her routine. I even left polite housekeeping signs to remind her of her “guest duties.”

By midweek, I stopped cooking and handed her takeout menus, letting her choose her own meals. Finally, I left a bill charging for laundry, maid service, and breakfast supplies. Linda was furious, insisting she shouldn’t pay to live in her son’s home. I calmly reminded her that guests don’t stay for free, turning her own logic back on her.

Faced with the reality of her behavior, Linda decided to leave within the week. The house returned to quiet and order, and Jason admitted I might have had a point all along. I finally enjoyed my home and my special coffee in peace. Sometimes, the best way to handle difficult guests is to treat them exactly like guests.