My Mother-in-Law Called My 14-Week-Old Son Fat & Asked Us to Take Pictures from Far away so He Looks Thinner

A woman found herself in a whirlwind of emotions—shock, rage, and profound hurt—when her mother-in-law made a callous comment about her weeks-old son. In response, she and her husband decided to ban the MIL from their Thanksgiving dinner. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when her husband had a change of heart after receiving a text one day, leaving the woman utterly dismayed.

On October 30, 2023, an anonymous female contributor shared her story in the "Mother in Laws from Hell" subreddit. The woman painted a vivid picture of her challenging relationship with her mother-in-law, 63, who seemed to have an ongoing problem respecting boundaries and appropriateness.

The MIL's behavior had created significant issues in the past, including causing her other son and daughter-in-law to cut ties with her. Their relationship reached a breaking point when the MIL insisted on a family member's invitation to her other son's wedding, resulting in her being uninvited.

What Was the MIL's Recurring Problem?

During one holiday season, the woman and her then-fiancé, who is now her husband of five years, faced a daunting dilemma when visiting their families, who lived in different regions of the island.

However, the woman perceived it as manipulative, finding it difficult to overlook the lack of remorse in the message.

The mother-in-law adamantly opposed dividing their time between the two families, forcing the couple to spend the week apart to appease her. This incident left a lasting impact, with the woman vowing never to return during the holiday season due to the emotional strain caused by her MIL's behavior.

Even during the woman's wedding preparations, her mother-in-law's disregard for boundaries persisted. The couple had requested her arrival on a specific date to allow them ample time to finalize wedding arrangements, especially since the woman was busy with teacher licensure tests up until two days before the ceremony.

However, the MIL arrived early, disrupting the woman's focus and adding unnecessary stress during a crucial time. Despite these challenges, the woman managed to pass her tests, but the incident served as a stark reminder of her MIL's inability to respect their wishes and boundaries.

How Did the MIL Criticize Her DIL?

During the early weeks of her baby's life, the woman found herself in a challenging situation. Her newborn, now 14 weeks old, had just arrived, and the woman was in need of support and understanding. However, her mother-in-law's response was far from comforting.

She was upset that she couldn't stay with them and that the woman preferred her own mother's presence instead. Given the mother-in-law's history of being critical and unkind, the woman decided to keep her at arm's length, seeking solace in her own mother's support.

A few weeks after giving birth through a C-section, during which the woman had lost a significant amount of blood and became anemic, the mother-in-law's insensitivity reached new heights. She made hurtful comments about the woman's appearance, cruelly suggesting that she looked like a "junkie." The MIL also made inappropriate remarks about the woman's post-pregnancy body.

The woman's husband confronted his mother about her habit of making derogatory comments about others' bodies and appearances a few weeks before. Despite his plea, she seemed offended, insisting that everything she said was misconstrued.

As Thanksgiving approached, the tension between them escalated. The in-laws were scheduled to visit for a week, intending to meet their newborn grandson, but the woman couldn't shake off her sense of dread due to the strained atmosphere.

The MIL's Comment on Her Grandson's Appearance

A day before the original poster shared her Reddit account, the tension reached a breaking point when the MIL persisted in giving unsolicited advice about her little grandson. She questioned her son and his wife's choice of feeding their baby, suggesting water and juice despite being informed previously that it was too early for such additions.

The woman and her husband patiently explained that they were following the advice of healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of waiting until the baby was older for additional fluids.

The situation escalated when the mother-in-law bluntly commented that the baby was "fat." Despite the woman and her husband's reassurances that their son was healthy, thriving, and well within the appropriate weight range for his height, the mother-in-law continued to press the issue.

She even suggested taking pictures of the baby from far away to make him look thinner, ignoring her son's pleas to stop. Frustrated, the woman's husband abruptly ended the call and later sent a text informing his parents that their planned Thanksgiving visit was canceled, urging them not to come for the week-long stay.

The Woman's Reaction

Upon hearing the MIL's hurtful words, OP was overcome with emotion, breaking into sobs. "Who speaks like this about a baby? What is there to hide by taking a photo from far away? He is a gorgeous baby, happy and healthy! Even if he was overweight that is not her problem or something to hide. What kind of sick mind would say something like this?" said the woman, questioning her MIL's insensitive remarks.

Adding to her frustration was the stark contrast in treatment. The mother-in-law was herself overweight, yet no one dared to comment on her body, acknowledging it as her personal matter. The double standards perplexed the woman, leaving her seething with rage.

The most heartbreaking aspect was witnessing her husband, a kind and deserving man, being subjected to this torment. It pained her to see him hurt by his own mother's insensitivity and cruelty.

According to a brief update to the original story, OP's husband had a change of heart, expressing his willingness for the mother-in-law to join them for Thanksgiving, despite her hurtful behavior. The woman strongly disagreed with this decision, feeling deeply wounded by her MIL's actions.

Instead of apologizing or acknowledging her insensitive comments, the MIL had sent a text, seemingly filled with blessings and love for her grandson. However, the woman perceived it as manipulative, finding it difficult to overlook the lack of remorse in the message. Feeling torn and distressed, the woman sought help and guidance, grappling with the complexities of the situation and the emotional turmoil it had caused.

Comments from Readers

What do you think about this story? Do you feel OP's husband should have stood by her instead of altering his decision after receiving a text from his mother? Click here to read another story about a woman who suspected her mother-in-law of snooping in her bedroom, so she used a pregnancy test to catch her.