Three people shared their stories on Reddit, revealing how they had fallouts with their mothers-in-law. The older women were called out for causing rifts between their grandchildren, failing to respect boundaries, and so much more!
The following stories show how disrespectful some in-laws can be to their daughters-in-law. Some of them refuse to follow instructions and rules, while others try to enforce their own beliefs on their children’s families. Read on to hear all about their bad behaviors.
MIL Goes Silent on Her Daughter-in-Law
A Reddit user contacted the platform’s users on the “AITA” sub, hoping to get their guidance. Sharing some background, the woman revealed that she had problems with her mother-in-law (MIL) long before she welcomed her first child in August 2021.
An older woman standing arguing with a younger one who’s seated | Source: Pexels
Things got worse with the MIL after the original poster (OP) welcomed her child. When OP was discharged from the hospital after giving birth, she went to stay with her parents, something she described as a “big mistake in general.” Her MIL insisted on staying with her in-laws because she felt it was unfair that they should get to be with the baby all the time while she couldn’t.
OP noted how her MIL had boundary issues before the baby was born but became even worse after. The older woman refused to adhere to any rules put in place, constantly kissed the four-month-old infant, and didn’t give OP any alone time even if it was to pump milk or breastfeed, with the Redditor adding:
“It had gotten so bad that my PPD had become so exacerbated that I wasn’t eating and I was crying constantly.”
An older woman cradling and kissing an infant on the cheek | Source: Pexels
Her husband constantly tried to get his mother to stop her behavior, but they eventually had to kick her out and send her home. By extension, OP’s brother-in-law (BIL) and grandmother also had to leave. OP revealed that her father would usually watch the baby during the week, which irritated MIL because she felt it was unfair.
Her complaint didn’t make sense as she lived an hour and a half from OP’s place. The MIL harassed OP and her husband for months before they eventually allowed her to watch her granddaughter every Wednesday at their apartment.
A young woman holding a baby while an older one hovers over them | Source: Pexels
The day before the Redditor put up her post, she was halfway through her shift at work when she received a call from her BIL. He told her his mother called him all hysterical saying she’d dropped her granddaughter and was afraid the child was seriously hurt.
OP was frustrated that her MIL decided to call her BIL who lives an hour and a half away with her. The mother of one quickly hung up before trying her MIL seven times with no answer! She then called her mother who lives closer to her house, and the parent immediately went over.
An older woman talking on the phone | Source: Pexels
The Reddit user was frantic, running to grab her coat and she called her husband. When she explained what happened, he was livid but since his shift was ending before OP’s, he left an hour early and went straight home. OP’s husband was able to get his mother on the phone but she was falling apart and incoherent.
He and OP’s mother arrived at the same time and found the MIL sobbing on the couch and luckily the six-month-old baby was fine except for a bruise and a cut under her eye. The child was laughing at her grandmother’s crying while in a bouncer.
A baby laughing while seated on a chair | Source: Pexels
Things were sorted, doctors were visited, and MIL was sent home. At one point, MIL called OP trying to explain but she cut her off and told her she wouldn’t be watching over her grandchild anymore. The mother of one had already discussed the decision with her husband.
OP told her MIL that she couldn’t handle the baby alone or in an emergency, leaving the older woman inconsolable. MIL was now telling anyone who’d listen that they were never allowing her to see her grandchild again. OP clarified that her MIL had her pediatrician’s number and the direct line to the local fire department.
A man drinking from his mug while writing something on a paper stuck on a fridge | Source: Pexels
She explained that if the older woman couldn’t find the numbers they were right there on the fridge. The younger woman also explained that her MIL wasn’t completely banned from seeing her grandchild, just that it couldn’t happen unsupervised.
A distressed older woman holding her face with both hands | Source: Pexels
OP said it would take something quite significant for her and her husband to cut MIL from her granddaughter’s life completely. Luckily, Reddit users thought OP wasn’t in the wrong in this situation.
Woman Insists on DNA Tests, Insinuating That Her Son’s Girlfriend Is Cheating
In a similar story, a 21-year-old Reddit user revealed that she had her son, Ben, at age 16. She explained that she and Ben’s father broke up not long after their child’s birth but remained in contact, and the boy’s father saw him regularly.
A young girl sitting on a wall | Source: Pexels
When she was 19, she started seeing her current partner, Tom, and not long into their relationship, she fell pregnant with his first child. Tom’s mother came to see her alone one time and offered her £5,000 ($6,280) to leave with the baby without saying anything to her son.
OP didn’t accept the deal but also didn’t tell her partner what his mother said. Instead, Tom discovered the truth when she was 36 weeks pregnant, and they both spoke to his mother about it. The older woman told her son she knew the baby wasn’t his, saying the child was Ben’s because OP was always around him.
A young couple holding an infant | Source: Pexels
Tom’s mother then vowed to take the baby’s DNA to do a paternity test. OP thought that threat was said in the heat of the moment, but when she went into labor at 38 weeks, her boyfriend’s mother secretly did a DNA test on their child a week later.
The results proved the child was Tom’s. Upon writing her Reddit post, OP revealed she was 30 weeks pregnant with Tom’s second baby, and they knew it was a boy whom they decided to name Elliot. Her boyfriend’s mother came up with the same theory as before, saying her son wasn’t Elliot’s father.
An upset older woman sitting with her hands under her chin | Source: Pexels
This time, Tom and OP agreed not to let the older woman see any of the children. However, the rest of Tom’s family are now saying they’re proving the woman right by not doing the DNA test. OP wished to know if she was overreacting, and she too was vindicated by Reddit readers.
MIL Causes Rift between Siblings Because One Is Adopted
In the following story, a Reddit user revealed that she and her husband have two children: a five-year-old daughter, Julia, and an eight-year-old son, Malcolm. After having a traumatic birth with her son, OP decided she wasn’t ready to go through that experience again.
A happy family of four | Source: Pexels
She and her husband still wanted more children, so they decided to adopt their baby girl five years ago. OP shared that her MIL cares for her family, but her preference for Malcolm is clear. The MIL was furious when she heard the couple wouldn’t have another biological child and disapproved.
When the older woman heard they were going to adopt, she started raging and shouting about the parents not knowing the parentage of the child. MIL felt they could end up bringing up a child who would disgrace her lineage, but her son quickly calmed her down, with OP adding:
“Thankfully, when she saw little Julia, it seemed like this was all behind us.”
An older woman seated on a bed talking to a younger man | Source: Pexels
The day before OP’s post, her MIL came to visit while her son was away on a trip, with the older woman helping around. The mother of two was exhausted and asked to go nap, which MIL was agreeable to. After a few hours, MIL woke OP up, telling her she was about to leave.
Everything was fine, OP cooked but suddenly heard a loud bang before Julia started crying. When she rushed into the hall, she saw Malcolm standing over his sister screaming at her:
“You’re not real! All of this is mine!”
A black-and-white image of a little girl crying | Source: Pexels
OP was extremely confused by the sight. The parent was able to calm the children down before asking her son what he meant. The little boy told her their grandmother informed him that he was his parents’ “real son,” leading his mother to get angry.
She said she spoke to her children about it separately and together.
She asked the boy to share what else his grandmother told him, and Malcolm said the older woman revealed that Julia wasn’t his sister. The boy said his grandmother told him he deserved extra attention for being “extra special” and he’d always be her favorite grandson.
An older woman posing for a photograph taken by a little boy | Source: Pexels
OP was blinded by rage and sent her MIL a text telling her that her actions were unacceptable and she’d never see her grandchildren until they were much older, before blocking the older woman from everything. The mother of two told her MIL that the children would only see her when they couldn’t be swayed by her words.
However, she later felt she was overreacting against the old woman. When her husband returned, they got into an argument, with him disagreeing with her decision. OP revealed that her husband adores his mother and told her that blocking the parent from seeing her grandchildren is inhumane.
Little boy and girl hugging | Source: Pexels
He defended her, saying she is old-fashioned and didn’t know her words would have such a great impact. The couple decided to have a civil discussion about the matter later. In an update, OP explained that her children knew that Julia is adopted.
She said she spoke to her children about it separately and together. OP thought she might need to have the conversation with them again to ensure Julia knows that her being adopted doesn’t make her any less part of the family. This time, Reddit users were on her side.
A woman bonding with other son and daughter | Source: Pexels
Have any of you witnessed similar stories to the ones shared by Reddit users? Click here if you’d like to read more about MILs who misbehave and cause rifts in their children’s families.
