AITA for kicking out my MIL?

Easter baskets, a cozy movie night, and a feast were all set for a laid-back holiday—until one mother-in-law turned it into a sermon showdown. In a home where faith is a personal choice and one teen practices Buddhism, this couple kindly offered their MIL a private space to read her scriptures. But her relentless push for a family Bible session soured the mood, leading to a blunt request for her to leave.

This isn’t just about Easter eggs—it’s a clash of beliefs, boundaries, and family respect. Were they too harsh in kicking her out, or was their stand a fair defense of their home’s vibe? Let’s hop into this holiday drama and unpack the tension.

‘AITA for kicking out my MIL?’

My MIL recently came to visit, as she was unable to come during Easter. Our family (my husband kids and myself) don't really celebrate Easter religiously. We give the kids Easter baskets, put on some Easter movie, have a fat dinner and that's about it. MIL is aware of this and usually keeps her thoughts and feelings to herself.

However when we visit her for Easter we do humor her and let her read us some verses. We do this at *her* house. We've made it very clear we don't care what our kids believe and allow the kids to express themselves religiously as they please, one of our children is a practicing bhuddist.

All of our kids are old enough to understand and chose what they'd like to believe. They are (11, 15, 16). When MIL came we were in the middle of making each other Easter baskets. She sat down with us and asked when she'd be allowed to start reading some scripture.

We told her we wouldn't be doing that in our home, but if she wanted to read some scripture alone that we'd clear the dogs out of the library so she could do so.  She said she wanted us all to sit with her and read scripture. She kept at it and kept at it, and the overall feeling of the day was kind of dampened.

I asked her that if she couldn't just leave it for today that she should just go.  She asked my husband if he was gonna let me treat her this way and asked our kids to come read with her.  They all respectfully said no. She called us horrible and told us that we were encouraging our kids to live terrible and unhealthy lives.

My husband and I asked her to leave and tried to continue with the night. Our family has been calling us since telling us that MIL's faith is very important to her and that Easter IS a religious holiday and we should have at least let her read scripture with us.. I'm starting to feel like an a**hole now and she won't speak to us. AITA for kicking her out?.

A festive Easter turned frosty when this couple’s MIL insisted on injecting religion into their secular celebration. Their request for her to leave after she pushed family scripture reading wasn’t just about a holiday—it was about defending their home’s values. The MIL’s refusal to respect their boundaries, especially with kids who hold diverse beliefs, sparked a justified standoff.

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Respecting diverse beliefs is crucial in families. Dr. Susan Heitler, a clinical psychologist, states, “Pushing personal beliefs in someone else’s home can fracture relationships” (Psychology Today, 2021, source). About 35% of family conflicts arise from clashing values, often religious ones (Journal of Family Issues, 2020). The couple’s offer of a private space for their MIL’s practice was a fair compromise, but her insistence and insults crossed a line.

Dr. Heitler suggests, “Set clear boundaries early and redirect pushy behavior with calm alternatives.” The couple could propose mutual respect, like inviting MIL to share her faith privately while they share their kids’ beliefs, fostering dialogue.

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Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit cracked open this Easter egg of drama with zest, dishing out takes as bold as a bunny hop! Here’s what the community had to say about this boundary battle:

Reddit took a big bite out of this one, serving up laughs and outrage hotter than a fresh pizza! Here’s what the community had to say about this topping-tastic drama:

[Reddit User] - Nta. Easter was a pagan festival originally.

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hollyjazzy - NTA, it’s nice that MIL is happy with her faith, however, not so nice when she shoves it down people’s throats at their house after being asked not to.

Otherwise-Table1935 - NTA your house, your choice. Getting that angry about religion doesn't sound very.... Spiritual.

walnutwithteeth - NTA. Her personal religion is her own concern. If she'd wanted to read scripture you gave her ample opportunity to do it. Attempting to force her beliefs on everyone else in their own home is just rude and you were well within your rights to do what you did. If you started asking to read excerpts from The God Delusion in her home, would she allow it? I doubt it very much.

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daftwendy - Next time agree that she may read some of her verses - as long as she listens to your Buddhist child reading some of their prayers and mantras..... Religious respect works both ways.... MIL is AH. You sound like great parents!

ErnaSack - 'Religion is like a di*k, nice you have one but do.not.put.it.in.my.face'. NTA

Responsible-Seat1082 - Clearly NTA, religion is something you choose for you. You don't need to share your religion and you mustn't force your religion on others. She can be religious but for herself. Forcing religion on you is wrong and makes her the a**hole. For me easter and christmas aren't religious...for me they are family holidays to relax and enjoy each others company.

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DKGroove - NTA. She’s not respecting your home or religious freedom. Instead she and your extended family are trying to impose her religion upon you. I see no issue with how you, your SO, or children handled this.

Swegh_ - NTA - if it were her house, then fine. But this was in your house and you politely told her no. She disrespected you and crossed your boundaries and kept pushing and guilting. That’s an awful thing to teach your children “if you don’t get what you want keep pushing and guilting until they cave and do what you want”.

el_grande_ricardo - NTA - You don't get to force-feed your faith to others who hold different beliefs. You gave her the option of reading to herself, and she declined because her some purpose was to push it on you.

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From witty quips to staunch support, these opinions are as colorful as a dyed egg. But do they capture the full weight of this family clash?

This couple’s Easter saga shows how fast a holiday can turn sour when boundaries are ignored. Kicking out their MIL may seem harsh, but it was a stand for their family’s freedom to celebrate their way. A little mutual respect could’ve kept the peace. What would you do if a guest pushed their beliefs in your home? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep this conversation hopping!

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