Hello everyone, I’m Meredith — a mother, wife, and mother-in-law. I lost my husband a few years ago, and I live alone. My son Joshua lives in another state. He means the world to me, and I would go to any length for him.

But what do you do when your children start taking you for granted?

One morning, I sat in my armchair, sipping my tea, and decided it was time to call Addison, my daughter-in-law. She was due in a month, and I wanted to make sure everything was set for my visit.

I dialed her number, and after a few rings, she answered.

“Hi, Addison. It’s Meredith. How are you feeling?” I asked warmly.

“Hi, Mom. I’m doing well, just a bit tired,” Addison replied, sounding a bit worn out.

“That’s to be expected,” I said. “I wanted to talk about the visit. Is there anything specific you need me to prepare for?”

Addison chuckled softly. “Well, you know the custom in our culture. After the baby arrives, I won’t be doing any household chores. The family takes care of everything.”

“Absolutely,” I said, smiling. “I’ll handle the cooking, cleaning, and shopping. You just focus on resting and bonding with the baby.”

“Thank you so much, Mom,” Addison said, relief clear in her voice. “I really appreciate it.”

“Of course, dear,” I replied. “Now, where will I be staying during my visit? I want to make sure I have everything in order.”

I sat back, waiting for Addison’s response, expecting to hear about the cozy guest room. I was wrong.

“Mom,” Addison began, her voice sounding hesitant. “I just realized you might need to find a hotel nearby.”

I felt a jolt of shock. “A hotel? But I thought I’d be staying with you. I mean, I helped you guys buy that house.”

“I know, Mom, and we appreciate it so much,” she said after a pause. “It’s just… well, with the baby coming and all the adjustments, we think it might be better this way.”

I was shocked and disappointed. I was already going to do them a huge favor by being a live-in maid. Now I need to stay in a hotel and pay for it too?

I took a deep breath, trying to process her words. “I understand, Addison. This is just… unexpected. I need to think about this.”

“Of course, Mom,” Addison said softly. “Take your time.”

“Thanks, dear,” I replied, feeling a lump in my throat. “I’ll talk to you later.”

We hung up, and the room seemed quieter than before. I stared at the phone, feeling both hurt and confused.

“Frank,” I whispered to the empty room. “What should I do? I wish you were here to give me some advice. You always knew how to handle these things.”

Talking to my late husband always brought me some comfort, even though he had been gone for years.

“I just want to help them, Frank,” I sighed. “But I don’t want to be taken for granted. Am I wrong for feeling this way?”

The silence in the room was deafening, and I could almost imagine Frank’s calming voice reassuring me.

Suddenly, the phone rang again, shattering the silence around me. This time, it was Joshua. I answered, bracing myself.

“Hi, Joshua,” I said, trying to sound calm.

“Mom, I just talked to Addison,” he began, his voice tense. “She said you were upset about the hotel situation.”

“Son, I’m not just upset,” I replied, my voice steady but firm. “I’m disappointed and shocked. I helped you buy that house. Now, you expect me to pay for a hotel while I do all the cooking, cleaning, and shopping?”

“It’s Addison’s cultural tradition, Mom,” Joshua insisted more forcefully. “We need to follow it.”

“I understand traditions, son,” I said, my patience thinning. “But if it’s such an important custom, why isn’t Addison’s family helping out?”

Joshua’s tone grew sharper. “Addison isn’t close to her family, and they aren’t available to help. That’s why we need you!”

“Joshua, I’m willing to help,” I said, my voice rising. “But expecting me to pay for a hotel on top of doing all the work is like treating me as a live-in maid. It’s unreasonable!”

“Mom, this is important to Addison,” he snapped. “We need to respect her traditions.”

“And what about respecting me, Joshua?” I countered. “I was ready to come and help, but I can’t afford to pay for a hotel on top of everything else!”

There was a tense silence on the other end. “I see your point, Mom,” Joshua finally said, his tone less aggressive. “But we’re trying to make this work the best way we can.”

“And so am I,” I replied, still heated. “But this arrangement isn’t fair. I’ve already done so much to help you both. I can’t believe you’re asking this of me!”

“I’ll talk to Addison,” Joshua said, sounding defeated. “We’ll figure something out.”

“Thank you,” I said, feeling a small sense of relief. “Let’s talk again after you’ve discussed it with her.”

“Alright, Mom. I’m sorry about all this.”

“We’ll work it out,” I assured him. “Take care.”

“You too, Mom,” he replied before hanging up.

I put the phone down and sighed. I hoped Joshua and Addison would understand my position and find a reasonable solution.

A few hours later, I was still sitting in my living room when the phone rang again. I took a deep breath and answered.

“Hi, Joshua,” I said.

“Hi, Mom,” Joshua replied, his voice subdued. “I talked to Addison. She understands now, and we’ve decided you can stay here with us.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. “Thank you, Joshua. I appreciate you both reconsidering.”

“I’m sorry, Mom,” Joshua continued, sounding genuinely apologetic. “We didn’t think it through properly.”

“It’s alright, son,” I said, softening my tone. “I’m more than happy to help, but we need to have mutual respect and boundaries. I don’t mind doing the chores, but I need to feel appreciated and not like a burden.”

“I understand, Mom,” Joshua said. “Addison and I will make sure you feel welcome and respected.”

“That’s all I ask,” I replied. “This is a special time for all of us, and I want to support you both. Let’s make sure we communicate openly and work together.”

“Absolutely, Mom,” Joshua said, sounding relieved. “We’ll do better. Thank you for understanding.”

“Of course,” I said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to being there and helping with the baby. Let’s make this a positive experience for everyone.”

“We will, Mom,” Joshua promised. “Talk to you soon.”

“Talk to you soon, Joshua,” I replied.

As I hung up, a wave of relief washed over me. We had found a compromise, and I was optimistic that my visit would be a time of support and joy for our growing family.

That weekend, I arrived at Joshua and Addison’s home, a spacious and modern house nestled in the suburbs. As I stepped out of the car, they both came out to greet me.

“Hi, Mom!” Joshua called, waving.

“Welcome,” Addison said, smiling warmly.

“Hello, both of you,” I replied, feeling a bit nervous.

Addison stepped forward and gave me a hug. “We’re really glad you’re here.”

“Thank you, Addison. I’m glad to be here too,” I said, smiling back.

Inside, the house was beautifully decorated, and I could see they had made an effort to make me feel welcome. Addison showed me to the guest room, and I settled in quickly.

The next morning, I started helping with the household chores. “I’m happy to cook and clean,” I told Addison. “But let’s make sure we keep communicating and respecting each other’s space.”

“Absolutely,” Addison agreed. “Sorry, Mom, for what happened earlier. We didn’t want to hurt you.”

Joshua nodded. “We really appreciate your help, Mom. We’re glad you’re here.”

Over the next few days, we found a good rhythm. I cooked meals, did some cleaning, and ran errands. Addison was more accommodating and respectful, making sure to express her gratitude often. Joshua was also more attentive, helping out whenever he could.

We had a few bumps along the way, but we navigated them with improved communication and mutual respect. I made sure to set clear boundaries, and they respected them.

Standing up for yourself, even with family, is crucial. Helping loved ones is important, but not at the cost of being taken for granted. Always ensure that your kindness is respected and appreciated.

What would you have done? If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one: Julia is stunned by her new neighbors’ audacity; they’ve schemed to get her and her husband, Ethan, evicted. Determined to fight back, Ethan and Julia hatch a clever plan to teach a harsh lesson to the entitled neighbors.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.