Woman Calls Out In-Laws Over Thanksgiving Sleeping Setup, Internet Agrees

A 24-year-old woman has gained the support of Reddit users after revealing the Thanksgiving setup she has to endure at her in-laws' home every year.

The woman, who is known as u/one-street5122 on Reddit, took to the platform on November 26 to express her frustration over her in-laws' Thanksgiving sleeping arrangements, which always leave her and her partner on an air mattress in the hallway. Her post quickly went viral, amassing over 10,000 upvotes, with most viewers validating the woman's discontent.

The woman walked viewers online through a recurring issue where she and her boyfriend, Nathan, 26, are always relegated to sleeping on an air mattress during family visits, despite earlier promises of a fair rotation system. Things escalated this year when they were once again denied a bedroom, despite arriving before other family members, prompting the woman to call out the inconsistency and perceived favoritism of her boyfriend's mother, Mary.

Randi Corrigan, a licensed psychotherapist, told Newsweek that the couple should bear in mind the importance of setting boundaries to protect their personal space and relationship privacy.

"No one should be expected to sleep on an air mattress in a hallway, especially as a couple," Corrigan, who is based in New York, told Newsweek. "This is a clear violation of personal space and a lack of respect for privacy, which is fundamental in adult relationships."

An air mattress is inflated inside a home. A woman has been supported by Reddit users after sharing where her boyfriend's mother has asked her to sleep during Thanksgiving. Getty Images

Nathan is one of four brothers, his siblings being; Alex, Jack, who is married to Jill, and Luke, who is married to Millie. All live out of state except for Luke and Millie, who reside near the family home. The woman and Nathan usually face the longest drive of nine hours to join gatherings at the property.

Nathan's parents, Mary and John, have only two guest bedrooms, often resulting in one couple being assigned the air mattress. Initially, Mary had promised a rotating system, and then a system of "first come first served," to ensure fairness. However, the woman's hopes of finally securing a bedroom this year were dashed when Mary assigned the rooms to others, despite her and Nathan arriving first.

"When we arrived, Nathan brought up the rule again, but Mary got defensive, claimed she didn't remember ever saying it, and refused to budge," the woman said. "I said several sarcastic comments as I felt this was really unfair."

The woman's frustration was compounded by the realization that Mary seemed to prioritize her older son, Jack, contravening her initial "first come first serve" promise.

"It seems that the family dynamics in this situation lack clear boundaries, and the inconsistency in how 'rules' are applied feels unfair," Corrigan said. She advises the woman and Nathan to consider other options for accommodation.

"As adults, we no longer have to conform to the dynamics or rules of our family homes, especially if they don't respect our comfort or privacy," she added.

Lack of Respect

The Reddit community quickly rallied behind the woman, with many users expressing their indignation at the perceived favoritism and lack of respect shown by Mary. The post struck a chord, resonating deeply with those who have faced similar family dynamics.

"Bottom line though, if this continues, I would just start staying in a hotel (or not going), the whole thing seems like way more of a hassle than its worth," one viewer said.

Another added: "I think OP and her [boyfriend] should put their stuff in the bedroom and take their clothes off and lie on the sheets. They're there first after all. Refuse to get up when Jack and Jill arrive. Make Jack and Jill look like the a*******."

Corrigan says that personal space and privacy are crucial in maintaining healthy adult relationships.

"Many people feel a pull to regress to a more childlike state when they return home. However, it's important to remember that as adults—particularly as sexually active individuals with romantic partners—there need to be boundaries in place," she added.

Newsweek reached out to u/one-street5122 for more information via Reddit.

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