My Father-in-Law Thought We’d Keep Supporting Him

My husband grew up in a warm, loving family in Manchester. But when his father was fifty-seven, tragedy struckhis wife, my husbands mother, passed away unexpectedly. Naturally, it was a devastating blow for my father-in-law. We thought the best way forward would be to sell his flat, split the money, and invite him to live with us for a while, hoping hed recover from his grief with our support. It seemed reasonable.

We imagined hed stay with us for about six months, just enough time to get back on his feet and find a place of his own. But thats not what happened. He felt settled, almost as though hed found a new home, and had no intention of leaving. He never chipped in for bills or shopping, not a penny. I cooked his meals, washed his clothes, and cleaned his room. All he did was go to work. It was as if he was on a permanent holiday.

He ended up living with us for eleven years. Over time, he began lecturing us about how we ought to live, imposing his own rules on our household. We were exhaustedfrankly, wed had enough. Thats when we decided it was time to buy him a cottage just outside town. Hes still healthy, fit, and in the prime of his life, perfectly capable of living on his own.

We bought the cottage and made sure everything was ready for him to settle in comfortably. But my father-in-law started inventing complaintsheart pains, all sorts of ailments. He conjured up excuses just to stay with us. But I dont want to keep doing this anymore. I desperately want a break, just some peace with my immediate family. Im worn out. What should I do?