When my fiancé and I moved in with my mother to save for our own place, we thought it would be temporary and helpful. At first, things went smoothly—Mom cooked, helped with chores, and treated us kindly. But the atmosphere shifted after Joseph noticed money going missing from his wallet. At first, we brushed it off, but the tension grew after he brought it up, and my mom responded with anger and denial.
For days, Joseph guarded his wallet closely, but one night, I got up for a glass of water and caught my mother calmly taking money from his wallet. When I confronted her, she admitted she’d been secretly taking it as a form of “rent” since we hadn’t offered to pay. She felt unappreciated and justified her actions, though she never once asked us directly for help. Her secrecy and resentment were a shock.
The next morning, we decided to move out. Within a few days, we packed and left a note behind explaining that we needed space. Mom didn’t contact us for two weeks. When she finally called, she apologized, acknowledging she had crossed a line. I forgave her, but told her we wouldn’t be returning to live under her roof.
Since then, we’ve kept a respectful distance. We now see her occasionally, and the relationship has improved. She visits with kindness and boundaries, never touching Joseph’s belongings again. From a bit further away, it’s easier to love her.