Woman tows her cousin's car for blocking her driveway over the weekend, family piles on to defend him until she pull out receipts: 'Those fees are the consequence of ignoring boundaries, not my punishment'

There are some unspoken etiquette rules when it comes to using someone else's space. Whether you're using a guest room, leaving your stuff in their garage, or just parking in their driveway, you need too keep in mind that they are doing you a favor. They are going out of their way to help you, so you should do everything you can not to inconvenience or block them in any way. "A couple of hours" should amount to just that and nothing more. Otherwise, it stops being a favor and starts feeling like you're taking advantage.

One man learned this lesson the hard way when he found his car towed away by his own cousin. He told his cousin that he only meant to leave it there for less than a day, but he ended up leaving it there over the weekend. The cousin made every attempt to contact him, but he ignored all texts, calls, and DMs. After repeated warnings, including a very clear message that the car would be towed if it wasn't moved, the cousin had no choice but to call the tow company.

Now, family and boundaries can mix about as well as oil and water. I remember my parents getting increasingly anxious when one of my mom's cousins turned what was supposed to be a 3-day visit into a full 2-week stay, always swearing he'd leave "tomorrow." My ever-polite parents eventually resorted to hosting a "farewell dinner" just to nudge him out the door. That solution worked in their case, but sometimes, when hints and patience don't work, stronger measures have to be taken.