Dear Prudence,
In an effort to downsize, my grandparents put our family’s lake house on the market. My husband and I bought the property, with some help from my parents. No one else in the family expressed any interest. Now that we have moved in and remodeled, my aunt has announced she and her five kids are coming to stay with us this July! I told her that wouldn’t be possible, since we will be out of the country. She said she didn’t mind and would just “make herself at home.” She was furious when I told her no. Suddenly, I have “stolen” the family lake house and am “ungrateful” to my family. She even complained to my retired grandparents. I am happy to host my family—but only on my schedule. This is my home now and not a family vacation house anymore. We are paying a mortgage, for crying out loud. How do I hold my ground without destroying my family? My mother has already had a few screaming fits at my aunt.
—Lake House