Midwest parents use a storm in their state as an excuse for a 10-day, all-expenses-covered VIP vacation at their child’s California place, demanding the master bedroom and access to prized cars

The real test came when they asked for the keys to a high-performance car, then upgraded their request to a classic convertible, as if the coast highway was a parade route and not a fire-ravaged stretch of asphalt. The refusal was met with the kind of disappointment usually reserved for missed opportunities at Disneyland. Offering a rental was treated like an insult, but the Camry was accepted with the grace of someone forced to eat salad at a steakhouse.

The next ten days are going to feel like an endurance challenge, with every interaction layered in passive-aggressive remarks and thinly veiled criticism. There’s no winning here. Every compromise is a loss, every small victory temporary. The parents aren’t looking for comfort. They’re looking for confirmation that their way is better, and every detail is a chance to prove it.

Some guests just want a place to stay. Others want to turn your home into a stage for their own drama. Either way, the real vacation is waiting for them to leave.