My Adult Stepdaughter Left Trash Around My House and Treated Me Like a Maid

I’m Diana, who endured three months of my stepdaughter Kayla treating our home like a trash dump. After 10 years, Tom and I built a cozy life on Redwood Lane, but Kayla’s indifference tested me. Despite my efforts with cards and invitations, she ignored me, leaving messes like banana peels and soda cans. When she returned home in distress, Tom welcomed her, and she claimed our guest room, dismissing my casserole.

Her clutter grew—dishes, boxes, and trash—while Tom urged patience. After finding a banana peel under the couch, I confronted her, but she shrugged it off. The breaking point came when she ruined my clean living room, demanding pancakes. I refused, sparking my plan: I left her messes untouched and later returned her trash to her room, even packing it in her lunchbox. Her shocked reaction led to a shift—she cleaned up, and we found respect. Two months later, we made pancakes together, and she helped with the garden. Tom asked what changed; I said, “Sometimes they need to see the mess.” Love can teach hard lessons.