My DIL Demanded I Move Out So She Could Move in—I Had Other Plans

Here are 10 heartwarming stories that prove a little kindness can go a very long way! 💝 👇

Hey Bright Side,

I want to share a funny (and maybe a little cheeky) story that happened while babysitting my friend Emily’s kids. She asked me to watch them for a few hours, and we agreed on a small payment. When she came home, I asked about the money, and she said, “Friends don’t charge friends.” Okay, fine.

The next week, she asked me again to babysit. I said yes, but this time, I had a little plan. While the kids were playing, I ordered a large pizza with extra toppings and wings, using the money she had left for the kids’ dinner. And I may have helped myself to a few chocolate bars and a fancy sparkling water from her fridge. Let’s just say it felt a little like a treat for me, too!

Sometimes, friends don’t value your time unless you get a little creative about it. Now I’m wondering… was I right to do this? Or did I cross a line as a friend while trying to make my point about valuing my time? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

— Anastasia

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My dad married my stepmom after my mom died. She cared about him while I lived away. When he passed, she claimed everything was left to her and there was no will. So imagine my shock when I got a call from…

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Hello Bright Side,

I’m going to turn 55 soon, and I’ve set my sights on an early retirement at that age. I’ve saved up by turning down any extra luxuries, like vacations and fancy clothes. I’ve even cooked every meal I eat to keep my budget in check and avoid costly restaurant food bills. On top of that, I’ve worked an extra remote job to fund my early retirement.

My plan was set in motion. But when I told my daughter, Amanda, she said she needed money so she and her husband could go on a three-week-long trip around the world. I told her, “I’m not giving you anything, you have your own salary, your husband also has a job, save up for the trip yourselves, I’m not your bank.”

She went on to rant that I barely spent a dime on her, despite me paying off her student debt and saving her from loads of bad investments. Her ungratefulness and entitlement angered me, so I hung up the phone. Now, I’m feeling a little guilty that I did that, but I needed some space, and she was being completely unreasonable. Should I call her back and delay my retirement for a few more years? What do you think?

Sincerely,

Lizzie G.

Dear Bright Side team,

I’m writing because I feel trapped and unsure if I’m overreacting. My name is Aimee, and I’ve been married to my husband for six years. A while back, my MIL, let’s call her Pam, offered to buy us our dream house. It seemed like a dream come true, but what I didn’t realize was how much it would change everything.

Pam didn’t just pay for the house; she moved in with us. She didn’t ask if we were okay with it, she just showed up. And it wasn’t just her moving in. She took control of everything. Cooking, cleaning, laundry; everything fell to me.

When I voiced my frustrations to my husband, he just sneered and told me to be grateful for the house, as if that somehow excused everything. It felt like my needs didn’t matter at all, and soon, I reached my breaking point. After yet another argument where my husband sided with his mother, I snapped. I decided I needed space.

I packed a bag and left. As I walked out the door, my husband shouted after me, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I went to stay with a friend for a few days, just somewhere far enough away to get some clarity.

I feel like I’m stuck. I don’t know what to do next. I’m afraid standing up for myself might push my husband further away, but I can’t keep living like this.

So, Bright Side readers, am I wrong to want respect in my own home? Should I have just put up with it? Was my reaction justified, or did I make a mistake?

Please help me figure out if I’m overreacting or if it’s time to make a change.

Sincerely,

Aimee

Hey Bright Side,

I’ve got a story for you, and I’m not proud… but I also don’t regret it. After my mom passed away, we kept her ashes in her favorite vase. It was special to all of us. But soon after, my dad remarried. His new wife absolutely hated the vase. She said, “It creeps me out, I want it gone!”

One day, my dad told me they had moved it to my aunt’s house. I just smiled to myself. That night, I went into my stepmom’s bedroom and quietly hid all her necessary things in random, unexpected places. I wanted her to feel a tiny fraction of the frustration she gave me. Then I also messed up her clothes and scattered some stuff around the room.

When they returned, she was furious and threatened to ground me. I didn’t care: she had been dismissive of something that meant everything to me. Even now, she still asks about the things I hid, and I just pretend not to know.

But, yeah, well, ugh, I don’t know. Did I cross the line? Where is the line?

— Evelyn

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