Among other social media sites, Facebook was the first venue for creating incredibly amiable community groups.
Some of them are related to extremely common but helpful subjects, such as cleaning and housekeeping groups! These clubs aren’t just for advice and support, though.
Occasionally, there are posts that leave the group frantically searching for solutions while also raising questions about the original poster’s wellbeing. Kelli Tarin shared an odd picture of an enigmatic pile in the group “Homemaking Tips.”
The original post was published on August 10th, which is not too long ago. Tarin posted a picture in the post. A fine, dirt-like muck is piled up on the floor in the picture. Tarin finds two mysterious mounds that she cleans every day, and she asks if anyone can assist her figure out what it is. Both heaps were concerningly found in her daughter’s room, so it’s critical that she determines whether or not there is cause for concern. She also says that because they moved into this rented house, things happened rather rapidly. In terms of nature, Tarin says they have the texture and appearance of anthills or coffee grinds, yet feel like shells.
The Enigmatic Pile Gets Even More Enigmatic
After the homeowner asked the internet community for assistance, word of the strange pile quickly spread. In addition to over 440,000 reactions, the post received over 9000 comments. But despite all of this attention, nobody was able to determine for sure just what the mystery mounds were! Still, there were recommendations, and plenty of them. This is the picture:
Some people thought it was actually an ant colony, and this colony was especially difficult to deal with because it was so tenacious. Some others thought it was mouse crap. Regarding excrement, many people thought termites were the true source. After considering all of these recommendations, Tarin made the decision to seek assistance from the experts.
But their conclusion just made things more enigmatic. After she had contacted two pest control agencies, they both claimed to have never seen anything like the enigmatic mounds!
In later posts, Tarin said that she made sure their daughter slept with her father while the case was being investigated. Termites do not leave behind droppings that are this crunchy or “seed-like,” therefore it is not them. In addition to thoroughly spraying the entire house, she never observed any live roaches, therefore she was able to eradicate them.
She had only ever seen a few dead ones at most. She adds that since she grew up on a farm, she is familiar with the appearance of mouse droppings, which these are not. Bats was the last name proposed, but given that she lives in West Texas, that seems improbable.
The Enigma Is Eventually Answered
She also stated twice that it is only in her daughter’s room and that she cleans the entire house every day. In fact, according to her, it can form in as little as two days. She states that the landlords have been contacted to inspect them in the last update prior to the resolution. In any case, Tarin expressed gratitude to the group for their response. Even if they were unable to respond fully, they undoubtedly contributed to her ability to remain cheerful under a distressing situation.
Ultimately, the solution is wildly inappropriate. It appeared from one comment that one of their children’s lavender bears had ruptured. Things like this were inside at that point. This reminded Tarin that there was a purple blush bear among the toys in the pile that was atop the unexplained pile.
She had thrown it out thinking it was contaminated. She went back to look for it and discovered that it did, in fact, have a hole in it. Upon opening it, Tarin was surprised to see that it contained the items in the enigmatic pile! Everything works out in the end, we think.
Tears Overwhelmed Me After Uncovering My Husband’s Scheme with My MIL, Leading to Their Expulsion from Our Home
At 27, managing a household with a loving but often preoccupied husband, a lively three-year-old, and a newborn feels akin to performing a ballet on a tightrope. My husband, Alex, aged 36, has been my steadfast partner throughout our shared chaos. We’ve enjoyed seven years of marriage, and we recently celebrated the arrival of our baby boy, Sam, just two weeks ago.
Our relationship has spanned nearly a decade, yet it took an unexpected turn last week. Alex’s mother, Kathy, had been deeply hurt by her second husband, and in her vulnerability, she turned to Alex for comfort. Without consulting me, Alex invited her to stay with us. Given her situation, I initially held back my objections—family should support each other, right?
That was my initial thought, until Kathy’s brief visit began to feel like an indefinite imposition. Kathy has always been vocal about her parenting beliefs, which she freely expressed during holiday gatherings. But living with her daily magnified her criticisms to an intolerable level.
Kathy continuously criticized my methods, particularly how I cared for Sam. Struggling with breastfeeding due to low milk supply—an issue I’ve come to terms with through numerous consultations with our pediatrician—Kathy viewed my use of formula as nearly criminal. Her rants about “squandered money” and comparisons to her own parenting left me feeling undermined in my own home.
Her criticisms extended beyond feeding. Kathy claimed my way of holding Sam was spoiling him, and she labeled my quick meal preparations for our daughter, Lily, as lazy. She would start her lectures with, “Back in my day,” dismissing the pediatrician’s advice and asserting her superior parenting knowledge.
The tension in our home was palpable. Alex attempted to mediate but often ended up making me feel more isolated as he struggled to balance his loyalties. My dread of facing another day of Kathy’s relentless critiques grew daily.
The breaking point came last night.
The atmosphere at home was charged with silent confrontations, turning dinner time into a battleground. Weighed down by exhaustion and the constant pressure, I sought a brief escape, asking Alex for a few minutes alone in the shower—a simple request for respite.
Kathy’s harsh response sliced through any hope of peace. She accused me of being lazy and gold-digging, suggesting that I was unfairly burdening Alex by asking him to momentarily step into a parental role. Her insinuation that I was reducing Alex to merely a babysitter was the last straw.
I had pleaded with Alex to address Kathy’s toxic attitude toward me and our household dynamics. Initially, he defended her, his maternal loyalty clouding his judgment. Yet, seeing the strain her presence put on me, he reluctantly agreed to speak with her. Clinging to hope, I believed we could overcome this together.
That hope was destroyed in the most painful way. Awakening in the middle of the night, I found Alex’s side of the bed empty. A chill of foreboding led me to the kitchen, where I stopped, overhearing a conversation that would crush any remaining trust.
“Listen, mom, tomorrow I will sell some of my wife’s jewelry and will rent you an apartment, ok?” Alex’s voice, once my comfort, now seemed alien.
Kathy’s reply twisted the knife deeper. “You know what she is like, how you tolerate her, she spoils your child. Doesn’t care about you at all. I’m not just telling her all this for nothing. I want you to be happy.”
Reeling from the betrayal, I confronted them, tears streaming down my face. I demanded that Kathy leave our home immediately. Alex tried to defend her, but it was too late. My heart wasn’t just broken by Kathy’s cruel words but by Alex’s participation in her schemes.
Overcome with anger and weeks of pent-up frustration, I erupted, “Go back to your own house!” My voice reverberated against our walls, contrasting starkly with the warmth it usually carried. “Mind your own parenting!”
Instead of support, Alex sided with Kathy. “You can’t do that to my own MIL,” he argued, aligning with her against me. His words felt like a betrayal, as if defending my dignity in my home was an act of cruelty.
Our argument escalated quickly, filled with high emotions and loud voices. “She has three other children she can stay with!” I cried out, my voice breaking. “What kind of husband lets his mother treat his wife this way?”
Ultimately, the house divided; Kathy and Alex left, the closing door marking a definitive end to our dispute. Left in the echoing silence, I felt completely isolated.
Feeling deserted, I turned to the only support I felt I had left—my sister and my mother. Their arrival brought some warmth back into the home, contrasting sharply with the coldness of Alex’s and Kathy’s departure. Together in the living room, I shared the full extent of the ordeal, my voice breaking as I recounted the painful events.
They offered me steadfast support, their presence soothing the raw edges of my emotions. Yet, despite their comforting presence, uncertainty about my future with Alex lingered. How could we possibly mend our relationship after such a betrayal?
As the night drew on, the emptiness of our house felt more pronounced, a reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. Without answers, only the heavy burden of uncertainty remained, making the path forward daunting.
With Alex gone, my family rallied around me, their actions reinforcing their support. My mother, driven by protective anger, gathered Alex’s belongings and placed them outside—a clear symbol of crossed boundaries. My father joined in, supporting us as we faced what seemed an insurmountable betrayal.
Support also came from unexpected places. My in-laws expressed their disappointment in Alex and Kathy, offering words of comfort during this tumultuous time.
As we discussed my next steps, the reality of potentially starting anew without Alex became clear. Consulting a divorce lawyer seemed a necessary step toward securing a future for myself and my children away from the toxicity that had seeped into our home.
In those moments, surrounded by my family’s unwavering support, I contemplated the future. Though laden with tough decisions, their presence reminded me of the resilience within me. The journey to healing and rebuilding would be long, but I was ready to take it—one step at a time.
What would you have done in my situation? Let us know on Facebook!
Leave a Reply