My husband’s best friend, Jake, moved in with us weeks ago, expecting me to clean up after him. My husband, Tom, sided with him, thinking it wasn’t a big deal. Frustrated, I decided to teach them a lesson.

Every day, Jake would leave his dirty dishes, clothes, and trash everywhere. I repeatedly asked him to clean up, but he ignored me. Tom brushed off my concerns, saying, “He’s going through a tough time.”

Finally, I stopped cleaning up after both of them. Dishes piled up, laundry overflowed, and the house became a mess. They quickly noticed the chaos and complained.

I calmly explained, “If you want a clean house, you both need to pitch in. I’m not your maid.”

The lesson hit home. Tom apologized, and Jake started cleaning up after himself. Balance and respect were restored in our home.