Dear MIMsters: Please Help….How Do I Win Back My Mother’s Respect & Affection?

Hello MIMsters! I have a problem with my mother that I’m currently facing and I want the house to help me out on how to tackle the situation.

I’m 25 years old and I live in my parent’s house with my siblings. I recently completed my nursing training, as a result of that, I am currently not employed. Before I completed nursing school, my mum called me aside and informed me that her sisters daughter, my cousin, was going to move in with us. Her mother had left her to tend to their salon so she could establish a new one, only to find out that my cousin had accumulated a lot of electricity bills, so their light was disconnected. She was sacked from the salon and asked to look for the money to pay all outstanding bills, since she had spent all the sales made from the saloon.

My mother agreed and allowed her to move in with us. She began to work in my mum’s school as an attendant so she can make up for the money. At first I wasn’t happy about it, but then my mother assured me that she would be very helpful with the house chores, so it would be a good idea to allow her stay. It has been a year now that my cousin has been living with us

On getting graduation from school, I realized that she has taken over all house chores. From cleaning to cooking which I help her do sometimes. My mother however has changed totally towards me. She finds fault with almost everything I do. I have also observed that she even confides in my cousin on certain issues over me.

A few days ago, she called me to scold me, she accused me of being very lazy and said that I don’t do anything in the house. To top it all, she came across a pack of  condoms in one of my bags. They were given to us while we were in school for a community project, I still had some in stock so I brought them home. She said to me and I quote “a prostitute like you, you buy condoms for men to sleep with you“.

Honestly, I didn’t see that coming. All efforts to explain myself proved futile. I therefore decided to take over my house chores before my cousin came. I am the only daughter, but I had no problems doing my house chores before my cousin moved in. I thought that doing this would salvage my relationship with my mum, it has only gotten worse. My mum has decided not to eat anything I cook. My mum is very autocratic, so much so that my father does not have a say in anything!
What do I do to stop this from continuing please??