My Mother-in-Law Tried Snooping in My Bedroom Only to End up Screaming and Feeling Humiliated

This is a wild tale of boundary-setting gone… sparkly! Here’s my take:

Your mother-in-law’s behavior is unquestionably invasive, and your frustration is entirely valid. Snooping through someone’s private belongings repeatedly—despite being called out—is a blatant disregard for boundaries. While the glitter trap was extreme, it was also creative and delivered the point in a non-harmful (albeit messy) way.

That said, the situation with Richard is the more significant issue here. His reluctance to address his mother’s behavior or support you fully sets a troubling precedent. Effective boundary-setting requires a united front, and his hesitation to enforce those boundaries with his mother leaves you feeling alone in handling her intrusions.

Ultimately, was the glitter trap a bit over the top? Sure. Was it justified given the repeated provocations and lack of alternatives? Quite possibly. The incident may have created temporary drama, but it also communicated your frustration in a way Monica won’t forget soon. Now, the bigger challenge is navigating this as a couple to prevent future conflicts.

You could consider:

1. Having an open, constructive conversation with Richard about his role in supporting you and establishing boundaries with his mom.
2. Reframing the glitter incident to Richard and Monica as an attempt to illustrate a point rather than to humiliate.
3. Discussing clearer, enforceable boundaries for future visits.

What do you think?