My MIL Brought Three Young Women into Our Home Because I Wasn’t Enough for Her Son, So I Got My Perfect Revenge – Story of the Day

My MIL moved in “to help” — but when I came home to find three young women living in my house, folding laundry, flirting, and cutting my husband’s hair, I knew I wasn’t the one being replaced.

I was forty, and that was exactly when my life turned into chaos. I didn’t know how other people managed it, but I felt like the lead in a survival show.

Only, instead of the jungle, I had a kitchen. Instead of predators, three children. And instead of a team, an ever-growing to-do list.

“Mom, I’m getting a tattoo on my neck. It’ll say ‘Free soul’…” my teenage daughter, Sue, announced without asking for permission.

“And we want a new Lego and no more homework!” shouted my twin boys, wrapping themselves with tape and tossing first-grade books like confetti.

I stood in the middle of the kitchen with a mug of coffee that had long since gone cold, staring at my laptop, where a presentation blinked at me.

I was supposed to submit it the previous Friday. That one presentation could land me a management position — and with it, a raise we badly needed to stay afloat.

But the previous Friday, I had been fixing a doorknob, feeding the kids, and explaining why they couldn’t go outside in their underwear.

Ross, my husband, had all the time in the world but kept hiding behind the excuse of being “at work.”

In reality, it was an unpaid internship — his latest attempt to reinvent himself professionally.

“I’m trying, Em. It’s just temporary. Things will get better soon.”

“I know. I’m just not keeping up anymore. I’m not made of steel.”

We had started arguing over everything. The dirty pan. My tone. His bored “uh-huh” whenever I tried to speak. The romance had vanished somewhere between our cold dinners and the electric bill.

And right in the middle of yet another argument, the lightbulb above our heads gave out. Literally and metaphorically.

I grabbed a stool and changed it myself. Then hammered a nail into the wall for the shelf.

Then dried the floor after the washing machine gasped its final breath. The fence Ross had promised to fix? It finally collapsed. Right into the garbage. Along with my patience.

I saw the neighbor give our overgrown lawn a dirty look, and thought:

“Okay. Officially failed as a wife, mother, and human being.”

That evening, Ross and I sat in silence at the kitchen table. Ross didn’t even look up as he said:

“Maybe my mom could stay with us for a while?”

I almost choked on my tea.

“Linda? The same Linda who once compared my lasagna to cat food?”

“She just wants to help. With the kids. The house. Maybe we’ll finally have time for each other. Until I land a job and you get that promotion.”

I closed my eyes. Knowing Linda, that wasn’t help. But I was past the point of pretending I could handle it all.

“Fine. But only temporarily.”

I didn’t know then that “temporarily” was one of Linda’s favorite words. Also, one of the most dangerous. I didn’t know she’d bring a full therapy support group in short shorts.

A few days later, Linda arrived. She didn’t even say “hello” — just barged in, took one look at me, and turned pale like she’d just seen a ghost.

“You look… exhausted, Emily. Are you sleeping at all? No offense, dear, but your skin could use a little… citrus. Vitamin C serum. I’ll send you a link.”

“Hi, Linda. Welcome.”

She air-kissed my cheek, sniffed, and walked past me into the house.

“Where are my babies? Grandma’s here!”

The twins bolted toward her like she was handing out popsicles. Ross came down the stairs just in time to get a full hug.

“My boy,” she crooned. “Still so handsome. You’ve lost weight — have you been eating at all?”

“I’m fine, Mom,” he chuckled. “We’re really glad you’re here. It’s been… intense.”

“I can see that. Don’t worry. I’ll help get things under control. A little structure, a little feminine touch… it’ll all be fine.”

I was the only one who felt the storm coming.

***