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

The glitter trap was a creative—and hilarious—way to set boundaries! Monica had certainly pushed the limits for long enough, and sometimes, as you said, drastic measures are the only way to make a point. The glitter served as a harmless but memorable reminder that your space is private and that her behavior wasn’t just “getting turned around” or an innocent mistake.

Her behavior with the pie, the comments about your home, and even the backhanded remarks are all classic passive-aggressive moves that must have been exhausting to deal with on top of her constant snooping. The glitter trap may have finally been the nudge she needed to see that her actions have consequences—and that you’re willing to stand up for yourself.

It’s understandable that Richard was caught off guard, but ultimately, it’s your shared home, and both of you deserve respect in it. Hopefully, he’ll come to see that you didn’t do this out of spite but out of a need to protect your boundaries. And if she hasn’t tried to snoop since, it seems like the glitter message might just have been exactly what Monica needed!