Uninvited Guests: When My Home Became a Dining Hall…

Lucía never felt comfortable when her husband’s parents came over. Their surprise visits were a true test of patience:

“Every time they show up unannounced, I get knots in my stomach. I try to come up with excuses to avoid them, but it doesn’t always work. They drive me crazy. I shouldn’t have to cook for them every time they show up—especially when they don’t even warn me.”

Her friend Marta had also noticed the odd behavior of Lucía’s mother-in-law:

“Lucía goes out of her way to prepare special meals, but her mother-in-law always finds something to criticize. It’s really discouraging.”

Her husband’s family had very particular tastes. His mother was a perfectionist to the extreme:

“If there was an odd number of appetizers on the plate, she would refuse to eat them.”

Going grocery shopping with her was a nightmare:

“She’d spend hours reading labels, only picked the freshest items, and argued with store employees about expiration dates.”

Lucía’s sister-in-law Ana wasn’t much better:

“She refused almost every dish, blaming it on diets or random whims.”

Lucía was tired of trying to please them. Her husband insisted on hosting his family with special meals, but she felt like no one appreciated the effort she put in.

Then one day, her mother-in-law called to say she and her husband would be coming over in a couple of hours. Lucía was furious:

“They didn’t even ask if it was a good time. They just told me, as if I had no choice.”

Following Marta’s advice, she decided not to cook anything:

“If they can’t be bothered to give me a heads-up, why should I waste my time and money on them?”

When they arrived, they were clearly surprised that there was no meal waiting. Lucía calmly suggested they cook something themselves or order takeout. She served them coffee, but the atmosphere quickly turned tense.

Soon after, her in-laws got up and left, slamming the door on their way out. Lucía knew they were offended, but she felt relieved:

“I won’t let them treat me like their personal chef anymore. If they want to come over, they need to respect my time and effort.”

She decided it was time to talk to her husband and set firm boundaries for future visits.

Sometimes, saying “no” is the only way to teach others the value of respect.