Working from home has become increasingly common in recent years, but it can be a challenge for both the employee and the people they live with
Backstory
A user asked, Am I wrong for threatening to make my in-laws homeless if they cannot understand what working from home means?
The Original Poster (OP) (F38) is the primary breadwinner for my household. My husband (42) is semi-retired due to an injury at work. He is a great husband and has taken over all the housework that needs to be done during the day. They share all the duties when she is not working.
What Happened Recently?
Recently OP’s husband’s sister, her husband, and their two teen kids lost their home. Neither she nor her husband have jobs right now. They are buying groceries with his unemployment benefits.
OP and Her Husband Have A Rental Suite
OP and her husband have a rental suite in their basement that they use as a family area, so they agreed to let them live there. Because OP was paranoid, she had them sign a lease.
OP’s Husband Had To Go
A few days ago, OP’s husband had an opportunity to do some consulting at his old work. He loves doing it because it gets him out of the house, and he gets to see his old coworkers and friends.
They Hadn’t Arranged To Babysit
It was short notice, so they hadn’t arranged to babysit. They asked his sister to watch their youngest for the day so he could go work, and she agreed. The sister then delegated the task to her 13-year-old son. Then, she had her nap.
What Did The Kid Do?
The kid didn’t want to disturb his mom during her nap, so he banged on OP’s door while she was working to change a diaper.
OP says, “Fair enough if I were a 13-year-old boy, I might not feel comfortable changing a baby girl. I asked where his mom was, and he said she was napping. I woke her up and told her that she had agreed to watch her niece and to do so.”
What Did OP Say?
OP waited for her husband to get home, and they discussed his family. They decided together that the sister and family needed to start paying the amount on the lease, leave, or start helping around the house.
What Happened Next?
They took all the kids over to my MIL”s house, then sat them down and talked. They gave them their options.
They said OP was a jerk for tricking them into signing a lease agreement and then not collecting it so she could evict them. OP says, “I said that wasn’t the only choice. I said she was the one who chose to lay off responsibility for a child. I said I supported her, and if she couldn’t help, she had to give me money or leave”.
OP Wants To Know From You
OP is wondering if this makes her a jerk. What do you think? Was she right in asking them to sign a lease and for rent? Or was it inappropriate for the sister to lay off responsibility on her kid and not help around the house?
This is what others have to say:
They’re Looking For Free Lodging
“There’s absolutely nothing unreasonable about this. The fact that they are protesting this arrangement and demanding free lodging indicates that you should ask them to leave right now.”
It Was A Normal Request
“Crazy that it’s pay rent OR help around the house because normal people do both.”
Why Don’t They Have A Job
“NTA and I would love to know why neither of them is working at all. Are one or both disabled? Laid off because they do more temporary work like lawn care that can’t get done in particular weather? What’s the story there?
It was brilliant for you to do the lease, and it is not unreasonable for you to expect her to do what she says she will. It is NOT unreasonable for you to expect them to pay rent, help or leave. You’re being very generous here, I believe.”
You Were Setting Boundaries
“NTA. You aren’t ‘threatening’; you have healthy rules and boundaries. You are giving them an entirely reasonable choice: pay rent, contribute another way, or have a different living situation. There’s nothing wrong with that.
And good for you for setting up that lease. That was a brilliant move.”
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This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.<