MIL Comes To Stay With Couple, Nobody Prepared for What She Does Next

A frustrated daughter-in-law has gone viral after sharing a baffling encounter with her mother-in-law, who scribbled a message in green pen directly onto their back door.

The incident quickly gained traction on Reddit, sparking both concern and debate.

Reddit user u/Ok-Ad4375 posted to the "Mildly Infuriating" subreddit, where her photo of the message—"Lock The Doors" with an arrow pointing toward the handle—received 13,000 upvotes.

"Both locks are locked and stays locked unless we go out this door which is rare. She didn't even try to open the door but just assumed it was unlocked because the bottom one looks it. They're both locked and were locked when she was here," she wrote.

She clarified that her mother-in-law, who is over 60, was visiting their home at the time. Despite appearances, the door had been locked throughout her visit and remains so.

Expert Insight

Dr. Mosun, a consultant psychiatrist at Cassiobury Court, urged readers to view the situation through a compassionate lens.

She explained to Newsweek that when someone in their 60s begins leaving written reminders on household surfaces, it may stem from heightened anxiety—particularly around issues of safety or control.

"It could also point to early cognitive changes. If she genuinely believed the door was unlocked despite being told or shown otherwise, or if she's forgetting that she's already checked it, that could be a mild memory issue or even early signs of something like mild cognitive impairment," she told Newsweek.

If someone repeatedly checks or doubts something they've already verified, this might indicate mild memory issues or early signs of mild cognitive impairment.

Dr. Mosun encouraged families to respond with empathy rather than confrontation. Gently asking about the reason for the note could uncover unspoken fears or anxieties. "They're far more likely to respond to empathy than criticism," she said.

Reddit Reacts

Commenters on Reddit were split in their interpretations.

"She needs to be tested for dementia or some other cognitive issue," one user suggested.

"Meh some people are truly a******* without any medical reasons. Source: a daughter of an a****** mother who would absolutely do shit like this and is in perfect health," wrote another.

"I came here to say this. Writing things down is a common symptom here—and while writing on doors and walls is probably not common even for dementia patients, please don't let this go by without at least noting the red-flag potential," added another.

Some, however, focused on the consequences rather than causes. "Make her clean it up. Seriously," one commenter urged.

The original poster later returned to clarify a bigger issue underlying the situation: "You can't tell her anything without her going into a screaming fit about how we're disrespecting her and god too because the Bible says 'honor thy mother and thy father.'"

As the internet continues to debate, the situation has served as a reminder of the complex dynamics between adult children and aging parents—and the thin line between annoyance, anxiety, and early warning signs.

Newsweek reached out to u/Ok-Ad4375 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.

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