Latest news with #motherinlaw
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Goes on Week-Long Trip with Her In-Laws. Now She Feels 'Broken' After Receiving No Help With the Baby
The woman says her newborn's sleeping habits weren't taken into consideration on a family vacationNEED TO KNOW A woman says a week-long family vacation left her feeling "broken" after no one offered to help her with her newborn In a post shared to Reddit, she writes that she brought her 3-month-old baby along on the trip But in the end, she was left out of the group activities — mostly due to her baby's sleeping habitsA woman says she's feeling "broken" after taking a week-long trip with her in-laws. In a post shared to Reddit, the woman writes that she brought her 3-month-old baby along on the trip, which was meant to celebrate her mother-in-law's 75th birthday. "I really wish we hadn't gone," she writes, adding that there were "many people with [child-rearing] experience" on the trip, but none of them offered to hold the baby or give her a break. "They went out to dinner without us every night. It would be like 'oh let's go to nice restaurant! At 7:30!' Well, baby goes to sleep at 7pm and the restaurant is 45 min away….one night they offered to bring us back some food, but then said oh sorry we lost track of time and the kitchen is closing now. Every other night we just fended for ourselves or ate the leftovers they brought home," she writes. She adds that she, her husband and her child weren't included in group photos — which always took place while the baby was napping — and she wasn't asked to join on group outings. "They didn't want to have to plan, they wanted to do things spontaneously, which is practically impossible with an infant," she adds. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Many on Reddit are urging the woman to speak to a professional, with one writing, "Three months is SO little and they are still figuring out life. At that stage I was still in survival mode and I can't imagine traveling where I don't have any of my normal tools or routines. You're are totally justified in being totally spent!" Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
New Mom Has Been Pushed 'Over the Edge' by Mother-in-Law's 'Backhanded Comments'
In a post on Reddit, she writes that there's been "a slow build of tension" with the woman since the birth of her sonNEED TO KNOW A woman who recently gave birth says her mother-in-law has begun making "backhanded comments" about her parenting skills In a post on Reddit, she writes that there's been "a slow build of tension" with the woman since the birth of her son Now, she's reached her breaking pointA woman who recently gave birth says her mother-in-law has begun making "backhanded comments" about her parenting skills — and she's reached her breaking point. In a post shared to Reddit, the woman writes that there's been "a slow build of tension" ever since her son was born 10 months ago. "It started with little digs with saying things like, 'I'm surprised how much you're enjoying this,' (referencing motherhood) and commenting to other people that she is pleasantly surprised that I am as nurturing as I've been towards my son," she writes. "She's told my husband multiple times that he's 'changed… and not for the better,' clearly implying that I'm to blame because his political and religious views no longer align with theirs." She continues: "They've also made comments in the last few months to my husband that I 'run the show,' so it's obvious that they don't 100% approve of me. My husband is absolutely on my side, btw." But it was one moment, she adds, that finally pushed her "over the edge." "The other day, my MIL turned to me and said, 'I'm surprised you made it this far!' referencing the fact that I'm still breastfeeding. I naturally asked why. Her response? 'Because it's just such a sacrifice.' Packaged in a positive and uplifting tone, as if she was giving me some kind of compliment," she writes. She continues: "Am I crazy to find this SO offensive? I've done mental gymnastics trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, trying to see this in a way where it wasn't said with snide and disapproval. But no matter what, I keep coming back to the fact that she said she is surprised *I* made it this far - not that she is surprised people generally make it this far. I think she really showed how little she thinks of me. Am I insane?" Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Others on Reddit are offering their support to the poster, with many suggesting the woman turn the tables. "Look at her, say 'wow,' and change the conversation. Hand the awkwardness back to her," writes one. Adds another: "This would make me stop dead in my tracks, look at her with a very seriously curious expression and ask, 'What do you mean when you say that?' Make her try [to] explain herself in a way that's not offensive." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
4 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Tim Dowling: a tribute to my father-in-law, droll master of mischief
When my wife and I got engaged 33 years ago, she immediately rang her mother. 'We're getting married, Jesus Christ,' she said down the phone. Then she laughed for a bit, then she hung up. 'She says you have to go and see my father to request my hand in marriage,' my future wife said. 'What?' I said. 'Are you kidding?' 'Apparently not,' she said. Her parents had been divorced since she was nine, but they were on good terms. 'Fine,' I said, even though I'd already basically changed my mind about the whole business. I had to put off calling my own mother, in case my future father-in-law said no. We drove up the road to my girlfriend's father's house, where he lived with his second wife. They had only just got married themselves, or maybe they hadn't yet. It was that same summer, in any case. We drank tea in the garden and made small talk for long enough that I began to hope the time for requesting hands had safely passed. Then my wife turned to her father and said, 'Why don't you show him your extension?' My wife's father and I went upstairs to examine his half-finished loft conversion. If I recall correctly, the last leg of the journey was by ladder. He showed me where his spare bedroom and office and second bathroom would eventually go. And then a terrible silence fell, into which I cleared my throat awkwardly. I imagined there was a form of words for this sort of thing, but I didn't know what it was. 'So, I guess the reason I've come here today,' I said, 'is really to ask your permission to marry your daughter.' A considerable pause followed. 'I see,' he said finally, raising an eyebrow. 'And how do you plan to keep her in the style to which she has become accustomed?' I didn't expect questions. 'Well,' I said. 'I sort of figured she might eventually get used to worse.' He gave me a long and grave look, so grave that I cast my own eyes downward. That's when I noticed there was no floor; we were standing on joists, and I was looking down into the room below us. I thought: it would be the work of a moment for him to push me through. My father-in-law died a few weeks ago, at the age of 95. My wife was with him in hospital, and when she rang to tell me the news, I did not immediately think of this 33-year-old episode – the episode of the requesting of the hand. But it came to mind soon after I put the phone down. At the time I did not know my future father-in-law very well. I did not think of him as a man who was fond of mischief, or even capable of it. I had every reason to believe he was serious when he asked me that question, and that he strongly disapproved of my answer. It did not occur to me that he might just be messing with me, that he might have been tipped off about my intentions by his ex-wife. Or that he might have already put a celebratory bottle of champagne in the refrigerator in preparation. But he had. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Also, I realise only now, my wife must have been in on it. 'Did I know?' she says when I ask her. 'I don't think so. Wait, yes, I did.' My father-in-law could also be a man of surprising and unprompted generosity, once volunteering to have our dog for the whole of Christmas and New Year, while we went away. When my wife rang him on Christmas Day – with justifiable apprehension – to see how things were working out, he insisted the dog had been no trouble. 'Has he taken the right dog?' I said. Only later did we find out that just before lunch she'd pulled the Christmas ham off the table and run out the door with it. He had the right dog after all. The day after my father-in-law died I found myself back in his attic extension, with my wife and his wife and my three sons, going through old papers and photographs and stuff, the accumulation of a long life. I had been up in this room so few times over three decades that it was astonishing to see 30 years of wear on the walls and window frames. I reflected on how a true sense of mischief requires one to cultivate a certain reputation for sternness, so as not to give the game away. Of course people who know you will eventually catch on. You can't fool them for ever. I looked down at my feet, and I thought: somewhere under there, under the carpet, under the floorboards, are the very joists we stood on.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Man Cuts His Sister Off After She Takes the Jewelry His Mom Gifted to His Wife
A newlywed gave his mother's gold jewelry to his wife, just as she'd wished. When his sister demanded it instead, the fallout tore the family apart A man turns to the Reddit community for advice following a heated family fallout that erupted just weeks after his wedding. In a post on Reddit's "Am I the A------" forum titled 'AITA for giving my wife's jewelry to my sister and cutting her off from my life,' he recounts how gifting his mother's gold jewelry to his bride led to severed ties with his sister. 'My wife and I got married a month ago,' he begins, explaining that during the wedding ceremony, he presented his mother's gold jewelry to his new wife in front of everyone. 'My mom had told me that she wanted me to have them and wanted me to give it to my wife so I did.' But not everyone in the family supported the gesture. His younger sister felt blindsided and immediately took issue with the decision, insisting that the jewelry should have gone to her instead. 'My sister kept saying that our mom's jewelry belongs to her, especially the necklace and bangles,' he writes. He and his mother tried to reason with her, explaining that in their culture, a mother-in-law's jewelry traditionally goes to the daughter-in-law. Still, his sister stood her ground. Eventually, in an effort to resolve the tension, his wife made a surprising offer. 'After a lot of arguments my wife said that she's willing to give our mom's jewelry to my sister,' he shares. After talking about it with his mother, he ultimately decided to let his sister have the jewelry. 'I called my sister and told her that she can have whatever she wants,' he recalls. His sister came to collect the pieces and was visibly thrilled. 'She was happy and laughing and she said she wanted our mom's jewelry ever since she was a child,' he says. Though he allowed her to take it, the decision came with a finality he made clear. 'I said that she can have them but we all disagree. It's not yours to begin with, it's our mom's and I want her to stay away from us because I'll replicate the same jewelry for my wife and it's going to hurt her,' he writes. Since then, both he and his mother have completely cut ties with the sister. 'Me and my mom have stopped talking with my sister and every time she tries to talk to us we ignore her,' he says. Despite his sister offering to return the jewelry, their stance remains unchanged. 'She even offered to return it but we don't care,' he adds. The man's wife appears to have a different perspective on the matter, though her opinion doesn't seem to carry much weight in the family's final decision. 'My wife has a different opinion but to be honest her opinion doesn't really matter to us,' he admits. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the comments, Reddit users had strong reactions to the situation. One writes, 'Your lovely wife gave up the jewelry to keep the peace, but it was all in vain because there is no peace.' Another user questions the mother's role in the conflict, pointing out that the daughter may have felt neglected. 'Why on earth did your mom give her jewelry to her DIL when she knew her own daughter wanted at least some of it?' the commenter asks. The family conflict appears far from resolved, with emotions still running high on all sides. For now, the jewelry remains with the sister — but the family connection may be the true cost of the gift. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
9 Stress-Free Ways to Bond and Connect With Your Mother-in-Law
This relationship can be tricky for some people, so we're here to help you navigate it with ease. When you're in a relationship, spending time with loved ones can become complicated—there are now two families to contend with, each with its own quirks, difficulties, traditions, and dynamics. Perhaps one of the trickiest relationships to navigate, though, is the one between you and your new (or soon-to-be) mother-in-law. There's no 'right' way to have a relationship with your mother-in-law. You might hit it off right from the beginning, or you may find that it takes time to have a breakthrough and become friends. You don't have to become attached at the hip, but there's always room to bond with your mother-in-law and make your relationship stronger. Having a good rapport (even if it's not a close one) will make life easier for you, your mother-in-law, your partner, and everyone else in the family. Luckily, there are lots of ways to bond with her. Some are about fostering emotional intimacy and others about spending quality time together. It's also important to remember that everyone has a different relationship with their mother-in-law, and it might be that you're never going to be super close. Still, taking opportunities to bond when you're able to will make you feel like you're on the same team. When in doubt, start small and build your way up—it's better to let it happen naturally than to force it. Simply spending time together in the same space can be a great start. If you're struggling to get close to your mother-in-law, here are nine ideas to get you started. Related: 7 Ways Mothers-in-Law Make Wedding Planning More Difficult Cook Together If the heart of the home is the kitchen, that's a great place to start bonding. Offering to help is always a good way to create warmth. Next time you're over, see if you can help her prepare a meal. If not, keep an eye out for other ways you could lend a hand—maybe she needs help gardening or watching after some younger family members. Just look for a way you can assist. Ask Her Questions About Her Life Asking her about her own life might seem simple, but it's so important. Often, we only see our partner's family as extensions of our partner, and we ignore the fact that they have their own lives, histories, and passions. You might be surprised to see just how far you get when you try asking your mother-in-law more about herself. Whether she runs her own business, grew up somewhere interesting, or has a lot of hobbies, try to gently question her (you don't want to look like you're prying) and see if you can get your mother-in-law to open up about herself. Go to a Movie or Play Together If you really have trouble making small talk with your mother-in-law, plays or movies can be a lifesaver. It's a way of spending time in the same space and experiencing something together while keeping conversations to a minimum—you spend most of the time sitting in silence watching something, after all. Afterward, you'll have an easy topic of discussion: the show's plot! Ask Her for Advice Another great way to build a connection is to make yourself vulnerable. You don't have to open up about all of your biggest fears but just asking for advice can help initiate a bond between two people. It doesn't have to be about something big and life-changing (although it can be), but reaching out and asking for her help might help soften things up, and it also shows that you respect her opinion. Whether it's asking for a recipe or advice for problems at the office, it's a good place to start. Host a Family Board Game Night As long as your partner's family isn't too cutthroat, a board game night can be a great way to bond and have fun. First, if you and your mother-in-law feel really distant, it can help to do a group activity before you get one-on-one time. Second, very few things in life are as revealing as watching someone play Monopoly. You'll make some memories, but you'll also really get to know each other. Related: How to Navigate Wedding Planning With Your Child's Future In-Laws Plan a Spa Day If your mother-in-law likes a bit of pampering, a spa day is another opportunity for bonding that doesn't have to involve a lot of emotional sharing. Book some manicures or massages (or both) for Mother's Day or a birthday. Everyone feels better when they're more relaxed, so you may find the conversation flows easier than you think. Talk About Your Partner's Childhood There can often be a weird, underlying sense of competition between you and your partner's mother. They raised them and knew them way back when, but chances are that you're the most important person in your partner's life now. Give a nod to the fact that your mother-in-law has been there since the beginning by asking about your partner's childhood, looking at old photos, and maybe even swapping embarrassing stories about your partner. It's a good way to show that you understand how important their relationship and history are, which can go a long way. Participate in One of Her Hobbies Pottery, yoga, gardening, rock climbing: It doesn't matter what it is, showing an interest in your mother-in-law's hobbies can be a really good peace offering. If they're a private person or you sense that they prefer a solo endeavor, it may be best to steer clear—but if they're up for a partner, try volunteering to join. Go for a Walk A good walk and some fresh air have a way of getting the conversation flowing—maybe it's because many of us do our best thinking when we're moving, or maybe it's just the outdoors that give us a gentle boost of endorphins. Heading out for an informal walk doesn't have the pressure of, 'We're doing this because we need to bond.' Instead, just take the opportunity when the time (and weather) is right and ask some general questions to get the bonding started. Up Next: The Absolute Worst Mother-in-Law Stories We've Ever Read on Reddit Read the original article on Brides Solve the daily Crossword
