If she's not stealing, I'd say who cares, it's her problem. She deserves to see stuff she doesn't want to see. Don't make it an issue please.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not (at all) an expert in this area, but unless your closets are doors w/ doorknobs, I'm not sure you'll be able to do it. You could also swap out doorknob to your bedroom.

I locked bedroom door the last time and DH was livid. So, can't do it.

Sounds like you have a DH issue. He doesn't find his mother's snooping intrusive?

Could he not get in there or what? This is so weird. I would probably install a new doorknob on the closet with a lock and keep the key on my keyring. Actually, I would not leave someone alone in my house who was a known snoop.

Change the door knob to one that locks. Simple.

Booby trap it with a paint gun.

If the closet door has a standard doorknob, switch it with one from your kid's room--or the room your mil stays in. You just need a screwdriver to take the doorknob off and replace it. Of course, most interior locks are really easy to pick anyway.

I'd be enraged if my MIL went through my stuff.

I'd hang a beaded door curtain, with dildoes festively strung up and down it, that she'd have to push through to get into my room. Once she was in, she'd find a lock on the closet door, that's for sure.

I'd also tell her that the way I was brought up, people didn't go through others' cabinets, drawers, and closets without permission.

Buy a padlock and the hardware you need to be able to attach it.

Anonymous wrote:So...mil runs through my closet every time she visits (I am mostly at work when this happens or out of the house for some reason). First she commented to me that my closet is too messy, then I had it and I specifically asked DH to tell his mom to stop. She came up with an excuse of why she used to roam through my closet, then started pretending she does not but gave herself away. I want to lock it now, but don't know how to do it as the closet just has a normal locking handle without a locking mechanism. Any ideas?
P.S.: She is not just curios about my closet, but all other cabinets too - I don't have a say here since we share those with DH.

My idea is to say, "Mother-in-law, stay out of my closet. My closet is off-limits to you, period."

If she comes up with excuses, then repeat, " "Mother-in-law, stay out of my closet. My closet is off-limits to you, period." And repeat, and repeat, and repeat, as necessary.

You'll have to replace the doorknob mechanism with one that has a key.

My SIL used to snoop in my nightstand and dresser. One time I put a note in there that said, "Larla, what the fuck are you doing snooping in my drawer?" I'm convinced she stopped after that, because she's too stupid to be able to completely cover her tracks and after that I never saw any signs of her snooping. Maybe you could put a notebook in there labeled "Diary -- Private!", leave it somewhere visible, and just write on the first page. "Dear Diary, my mother-in-law will not stop snooping and refuses to respect my privacy. I wonder if she's mentally ill, since no normal grownup would act this way repeatedly" (or whatever you feel like putting in there).

Lock your bedroom door. She has no reason to be in there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not (at all) an expert in this area, but unless your closets are doors w/ doorknobs, I'm not sure you'll be able to do it. You could also swap out doorknob to your bedroom.

I locked bedroom door the last time and DH was livid. So, can't do it.

Sounds like you have a DH issue. He doesn't find his mother's snooping intrusive?

Anonymous wrote:I am not (at all) an expert in this area, but unless your closets are doors w/ doorknobs, I'm not sure you'll be able to do it. You could also swap out doorknob to your bedroom.

I locked bedroom door the last time and DH was livid. So, can't do it.

Anonymous wrote:Just hide your dildo in the closet next time. She'll stop snooping then.

OP here: You think she's on a treasure hunt? I honestly don't care she likes to spend time in the closet or if she's looking for a dildo, but my closet is messy and I have no time to clean it before her visits. She gave herself away last time by saying that I should not buy anything new before I get my closet organized.

Just hide your dildo in the closet next time. She'll stop snooping then.

I am not (at all) an expert in this area, but unless your closets are doors w/ doorknobs, I'm not sure you'll be able to do it. You could also swap out doorknob to your bedroom.

So...mil runs through my closet every time she visits (I am mostly at work when this happens or out of the house for some reason). First she commented to me that my closet is too messy, then I had it and I specifically asked DH to tell his mom to stop. She came up with an excuse of why she used to roam through my closet, then started pretending she does not but gave herself away. I want to lock it now, but don't know how to do it as the closet just has a normal locking handle without a locking mechanism. Any ideas?
P.S.: She is not just curios about my closet, but all other cabinets too - I don't have a say here since we share those with DH.