In 2020, amidst the upheaval caused by COVID-19, many of us faced significant adjustments as we adapted to a new way of life.
For some, this meant navigating the challenges of homeschooling and hybrid work arrangements, which often led to heightened stress levels.
Consider this couple’s experience: In 2020, they encountered substantial hardship when the wife made the difficult decision to leave her job in order to homeschool their three children. This choice resulted in a substantial loss of income for the family.
Previously, the couple had relied on their combined earnings to cover essential expenses such as rent and bills. However, with the wife no longer working, the family of five found themselves unable to afford housing.
Consequently, they reached out to the husband’s mother for temporary accommodation while they endeavored to stabilize their financial situation.
How did the family become homeless?
Initially, the mother agreed to provide her family with accommodation in two bedrooms of her home. However, she withdrew the offer upon learning that they had been evicted and had nowhere else to go.
Left homeless, the couple faced desperation as they sought shelter for themselves and their children. Finding available space in homeless shelters proved challenging, given the increased demand caused by the pandemic’s fallout.
For four months, the family resorted to living in their van. Eventually, they secured a place in a homeless shelter, but tensions arose as the mother-in-law kept her distance, leading to strained relations between her and the couple.
Feeling abandoned in their time of need, the couple harbored resentment towards the mother-in-law, who could have extended a helping hand. Adding to their discomfort, the husband’s sister made them feel unwelcome when they requested to use her home for showers, despite offering payment.
“We were made to feel like outcasts simply because we were a family of five struggling to make ends meet,” expressed the wife, deeply hurt by her sister-in-law’s treatment. She was frustrated by the unfairness, especially considering the sister-in-law’s inherited property and history of tax evasion.
Despite their adversity, the couple remained steadfast in their determination to build a better life for their three children. They persevered, refusing to let their circumstances define them.
The couple turned their lives around
Finally, they found their fresh beginning by constructing a new home from the ground up. Both husband and wife secured steady employment and even launched their own business, aiming to bolster their income and prevent any recurrence of homelessness.
The transition from van living to financial stability filled them with immense pride, particularly since they accomplished it without familial assistance.
Yet, as fate would have it, the mother-in-law sought refuge at her son and daughter-in-law’s doorstep when life dealt her a tough hand. However, the memory of her previous actions lingered, casting a shadow over their reunion.
The mother-in-law asked for help
The mother-in-law found herself in a tough spot. With fewer work hours and no retirement savings, she faced the risk of losing her home. She got notices saying she might be kicked out.
Feeling desperate, she asked her son and daughter-in-law if she could stay with them. The daughter-in-law remembered, “She came yesterday and asked if she could stay here.”
It felt strange to the wife. The same person who turned them away when they needed help was now asking for it.
“I said no chance,” the wife recalled. Her mother-in-law felt hurt by the answer.
She turned to her son, hoping for support. But he agreed with his wife. He felt upset too. His mom let her grandkids live in a van for four months. She promised help but didn’t follow through.
The mother-in-law left their home crying, saying the situations were different. She went to her daughter and shared what happened. The daughter called her brother to criticize him for not helping their mom.
It’s unclear why the daughter couldn’t let her mom stay with her. But the husband and wife stuck to their decision. They suggested the mother-in-law find a nursing home instead.
Their friends thought they were a bit tough when they heard what happened. But people online supported the husband and wife.
“If your husband agrees, it’s not mean. Let the sister-in-law take her in,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“Seems fair for them all to deal with it,” another user added.
What do you think about this sticky situation? Let us know!
