Pregnancy is a time that should be focused on the expectant mother and her baby.
Whether you have children or not, it’s universally acknowledged that being a first-time parent can be challenging. The journey from pregnancy to childbirth and then raising a child is no easy feat, and most people wouldn’t hesitate to lend a hand to a loved one who was expecting or had recently given birth.
It’s also easy to empathise with the pressures and stresses that pregnant women face, even if you’ve never been through it yourself. However, one mum-to-be has reached breaking point with her mother-in-law, who seems more interested in her own excitement about becoming a grandmother than considering her daughter-in-law’s feelings.
In a Reddit post, the expectant mum shared that while she’s not particularly fond of her mother-in-law, they’ve managed to maintain a decent relationship. But when she announced her pregnancy, her husband’s mother immediately made it all about her impending grandmotherhood, much to the annoyance of both the woman and her husband.
She said: “She hasn’t congratulated us once. The first thing she said when we told her was ‘It’s finally my turn! My first grandbaby! I’m the last one out of all my friends and family to have a grandchild! ‘ Me and my husband are literally also the last ones out of our friend groups to have kids, but I digress.
“We were both pretty annoyed with how much she made our special moment about her, but I think it bothers me more than him that she continues to make everything about her. I’m not sure if she realises that I’m the one who is pregnant, not her.”
The expectant mother expressed frustration as the grandmother-to-be escalated the situation by insisting the baby be named after her. She detailed that regardless of the baby’s sex, her mother-in-law wanted a namesake – a request that was firmly declined.
She added: “She seemed almost offended that we didn’t want to name our child after her or my father-in-law. She then proceeded to try to convince me to name our child after her and told me that she almost named my sister-in-law after herself but decided upon a different name and was hoping I would reconsider. No, ma’am, I will not.
“I’m just baffled. Maybe it’s not a big deal, but on top of her making everything about her in my pregnancy so far, it really rubbed me the wrong way.”
Commenters on the post were resolutely in support of the expectant mum, with a consensus that she has the right to name her child whatever she pleases. They also suggested that if her mother-in-law wants to make pivotal decisions about a baby’s life, perhaps she should consider having another child herself rather than imposing her will on her son’s family.
One commenter remarked: “It is a big deal because it shows her attitude and entitlement. Be aware and be prepared. Something tells me that it will become hell once the baby is here.” Another added: “This is obviously a little nuts … but I would be pretty concerned for what’s to come with this woman after the baby is born.”