Woman Who Left Her Homeless Son & His Family Of 3 Kids Stranded Came Back Years Later Begging For Accommodation

Aug 15, 2023

Going through ups and downs is one of the inevitable parts of human existence. Everyone has experienced seasons of plenty and lack at some point in their lives. In times of plenty, people may not need to lean on their loved ones for help, but in times of lack, the cushion of support provided by friends and family sees people through these periods.

Being treated poorly in your time of need can have a lasting effect on you. The result of this poor treatment, even when the period of lack is over, is resentment. While many people will actively show the erring party the consequences of their actions, others will allow karma to take its course.

In one such case, Reddit user @u/Evening-Still2174, in a February 2023 post, detailed how her mother-in-law treated her family poorly when they were homeless. And how, years later, the same mother-in-law is in a similar situation and requires their assistance.

Evening-Still2174 started the post by explaining that she and her husband were financially stable in 2019. But their finances experienced a significant challenge in 2020 when she had to leave her job to homeschool the kids. From then on, everything went downhill for the couple; they couldn’t afford their rent and were thrown out, rendering them homeless. Although Evening-Still2174’s mother-in-law offered to help, she backed out at the last minute, leaving them with no option but to live out of their van for four months before a homeless shelter opened.

Evening-Still2174’s mother-in-law also had reduced contact with them in their time of need. Her sister-in-law wasn’t any better, as friction developed in their relationship after asking to shower at her house despite offering to pay for it. 

What’s more, the original poster (OP) and her husband were blamed for their lives’ trajectory by her sister-in-law, who was living in a house that she inherited from her father after his passing and hadn’t paid rent in four years.

“We were looked at like we were scum because we were over the age of 30, had 3 kids and didn't have our shit together,” the OP wrote.

The couple worked hard to change their fortune, eventually bouncing back 10 times more than before. Together with their kids, they built a house from scratch and started a business. Evening-Still2174 and her family achieved this feat without help from their extended family, causing her to build resentment toward them.

Further into the post, Evening-Still2174 shared that her mother-in-law is currently going through a difficult time as she was moved to part-time employment due to her slow-paced work style and her retirement was also taken away. She was also on the brink of being homeless and had been given two notices and a lease termination letter. The mother-in-law, in preparation for her eviction, approached the couple for a place to stay, and the OP told her off. 

“She came here yesterday afternoon and asked us if she could stay here if she became evicted.”

Evening-Still2174 husband’s reaction wasn’t much different. Eventually, the OP’s mother-in-law left the couple’s house in tears, claiming the situation was different. 

“I will admit that my first reaction was to outright laugh at her and her audacity. She looked immediately offended and uncomfortable, especially after I stated there wasn't a chance of that happening.”

After the OP’s mother-in-law left, they received a call from the sister-in-law lashing out at them for refusing to accommodate her mother.

“My only response was that a nursing home just opened up down the street and she can go there.”

Readers on the platform took to the comment section to drop their opinions on the post, with many in support of the OP for refusing to accommodate her mother-in-law.

“NTA people don’t get to treat you like trash and expect to get things from you. It sucks but she’s grown and can figure it out,” one Redditor wrote. 

“Mean? Yes. But NTA,” commented another Redditor. “I always wonder how people have the audacity to run back to the ones they turned their back on. What was she even expecting?”

“INFO: Why didn’t MIL ask to live with your SIL?” A third Redditor questioned. “NTA. What goes around comes around. You are actually lucky that she turned her back on you, because now she can’t walk over that burned bridge and back into your lives.”

“While it seems spiteful of you both to reject her in a time of need - the spite was well-earned on account of her rejection of your family in eerily similar circumstances. Even if you tried to be the 'bigger person' or tried to 'model the behaviour' you want to receive I can’t see how letting this viper into your home could possibly end well. She sucks ... I hope SIL can make some room. She sounds keen to assist. NTA,” a user wrote.

“NTA,” another commented. “'Do unto others…' so forth and so on. If she had planned better, she wouldn’t be in the situation. If SIL is that concerned about it, let her know she’s equally capable to take her mother in or find accommodations.”

“NTA what's good for the goose is good for the gander. SIL can let mommy dearest move in with her if she’s so concerned,” wrote yet another user.

What do you think of the OP refusing to accommodate her mother-in-law, who is on the brink of homelessness? What do you think about how the couple were treated by their family? What would you do if you were in the OP’s shoes? Let us know and — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family members and other people you think would have an answer!