I Asked My Dad’s Widow to Leave — Our Home Isn’t a Free Hotel

Receiving rules from anyone can be tough, but it’s especially difficult when they come from your son’s spouse. Jenna’s daughter-in-law believed their relationship was too close and demanded boundaries, going as far as to give her four strict rules to follow. Furious and confused, Jenna reached out to us for advice on how to navigate the situation.

This is Daphne’s story:

“After my dad passed away, he left me his small house. I gave his wife two options: either pay rent with the $10,000 he left her, or move in with her son. She refused, saying, ‘How dare you? I lived here for 18 years!’ So, I evicted her.

A year went by without a word from her—until yesterday, when she suddenly called, demanding to meet. I agreed, but my heart sank when I found out why. The small apartment she’s been living in wasn’t rented; my dad had secretly bought it for her.

She told me he used the rest of his savings to purchase it before he died, ensuring she had a safe place to go if she was ever forced to leave the house. But here’s the twist: she signed an agreement saying the apartment would go to me after she passed, provided she stayed in the house they shared. If she had to move out, she could leave it to anyone she chose—and now, she’s giving it to her son.

At first, I was shocked, but then anger set in. All I did was protect what was rightfully mine. She had the money to pay rent; our house is not a free hotel. But the worst part is realizing I’ve been lied to. I had no idea about this apartment, and now, my father’s money is going to her son instead of me.

What should I do?”**