Moving in with my mom was supposed to help us save for our future. Instead, it almost destroyed it. Joseph and I were engaged, living with my mom temporarily. She cooked for us, did our laundry, and seemed happy to help. But then Joseph noticed money missing from his wallet — hundreds at a time. He confronted the issue gently, but Mom blew up, offended and furious. We were shaken but tried to give it time.

Until one night, I caught her red-handed. At 2 a.m., I found my mother in the kitchen… holding Joseph’s wallet. She pulled out $200, folded the bills neatly, and walked away like it was nothing. When I asked her why, she said: “I’m just taking rent. You live here, eat my food. I deserve it.” No warning, no discussion — just secret theft, masked as entitlement. We left within days. Now we live in a cramped but peaceful apartment, and she only visits by invitation. From a distance, she’s easier to love.