A woman found herself in a tricky situation concerning her mother-in-law’s actions towards her soon-to-arrive baby. After enduring this behavior for some time, she finally reached her limit and decided to cut off the mother-in-law’s access to the child. Seeking advice, she posted her dilemma on Reddit, questioning if her decision was justified.
The woman, known as the Original Poster (OP), shared that she and her husband were excitedly expecting their first child. However, her husband’s mother was overly enthusiastic about becoming a grandmother, making OP feel uneasy. The mother-in-law often referred to the unborn child as her own, using phrases like, “I can’t wait for my baby to be born” or “My baby is going to be so loved.” Though OP felt uncomfortable, her husband suggested she ignore these comments.
The mother-in-law proposed hosting a baby shower for OP, citing a pact with her friends to celebrate each other’s children’s weddings and baby showers. Since OP and her husband had eloped, the mother-in-law felt it was her duty to throw this event. When OP asked if she could invite her friends, the mother-in-law refused, saying the shower was only for her own friends and suggesting OP have a separate one for her friends. Despite feeling uneasy, OP agreed.
OP and her husband put significant effort into creating a nursery registry, themed around a garden motif, and shared it with the mother-in-law and her friends. OP even requested a flower-themed cake for the event. But on the day of the baby shower, OP was shocked to find everything decorated with a circus animal theme, completely disregarding her garden idea. She didn’t complain, assuming her theme might have been hard to execute.
To her surprise, all the gifts were circus animal-themed, none matching the registry she had carefully planned. Puzzled, OP double-checked the registry. When her husband arrived and saw the mismatched presents, he was equally confused and confronted his mother. The mother-in-law admitted she didn’t like OP’s chosen theme and had created a separate registry with circus items for a nursery she planned to set up at her own home. This confession left the couple stunned and angry.
OP decided that her mother-in-law would not be allowed to see the baby. The mother-in-law reacted emotionally, accusing the couple of depriving her of her grandchild. Other family members also began criticizing the couple, blaming them for ruining the grandmother’s experience.
Reddit users overwhelmingly supported OP, agreeing she was not in the wrong. Many suggested she take precautions against her mother-in-law, such as installing security cameras and informing hospital staff to keep the mother-in-law away from the baby. Commenters noted that the mother-in-law could have hosted a smaller baby shower with her friends instead of using it to gather items for her own nursery.
The mother-in-law’s behavior alarmed many readers. Referring to the baby as her own and treating OP like a surrogate was deeply unsettling, especially since she didn’t use the term “grandbaby,” which would have been more appropriate.
