My Wife’s Parents’ Anniversary Turned into Destruction of Friendly Family Relations

In a dramatic turn of events at a family anniversary party, a Reddit user shared a story that unraveled the fabric of familial bonds. The celebration, meant to honor the union of the OP's wife's parents, became the backdrop for a revelation that would leave the family in turmoil.

The Original Poster (OP), a 28-year-old man, and his wife, a year his senior, were part of a gathering that included her well-to-do family and his own, which was comprised solely of him and his 48-year-old mother, a survivor of an abusive marriage. The tranquility of the event was shattered when the OP's wife disclosed her suspicions about an inappropriate liaison between her brother and the OP's mother.

"During the party, my wife quietly told me that she is 100% sure that my mom is having physical relationships with her brother! (Told me they both just disappeared from the party) I was like shocked honestly," OP revealed.

The wife informed OP that she had been suspecting that her mother-in-law and her brother were involved for a while, leading to a confrontation that would expose the alleged affair to the entire party.

The discovery was as shocking as it was public. OP's mother and his brother-in-law, Ben, were found in a compromising situation, "half naked and pretty drunk," OP disclosed. The aftermath was a whirlwind of accusations, primarily directed at the OP's mother, with Ben's role in the incident seemingly overshadowed by his retreat to the bathroom.

The response from the wife's family was only one-sided and disappointing. OP's mother was subjected to harsh criticism, with the wife's mother condemning her as a woman who "lured their son and having dirty relationships with him."

This one-sided blame game left the OP in a precarious position, as his wife demanded the eviction of his mother from her adjacent apartment, a property owned by the OP. The narrative took a further twist as Ben expressed a desire to move into OP's mother's apartment which OP owns, complicating the familial discord. OP's pleaded for advice on Reddit on the matter.

One Reddit user highlighted the blame placed on OP's mother and BIL, noting it's not unusual for a family to protect their own member and expressing concern over the age difference and its impact on family expectations.

Another commented on the irrelevance of the age gap, defending the autonomy of the individuals involved while criticizing the broader family's judgment.

Meanwhile, a third commenter labeled everyone but the OP as contributing to the mess, pointing out the inconsideration shown by the OP's mother and BIL, especially their choice to engage in their relationship during a sensitive family event, highlighting the disregard for the potential strain on the OP's marital and family relations.

"Glad I wasn't the only one who read it like that. Prior to reading the whole post I was prepared to tell OP to get his wife to a therapist ASAP. I mean sure walking in on your sibling and parent in law isn't great but witnessing actual incest is on another level," wrote one person.

Another asked, "Is no one going to mention that brother Ben ran and locked himself in the bathroom and just left mom there to take all of the heat by herself? [...] Ridiculous sister should have tended to her own knitting."

Another said, "I mean it's pretty embarrassing on both their parts, especially during a party disappearing upstairs for sex like they're at some frat party, cringe."

One commenter said OP's wife was the one at fault, stating, "She made it a point to go and catch them in the act, and make it into a big scene. [...] None of it had to go down that way. She could have quietly confronted them. Seems like your wife is the one who has the problem with your mom."

A different Redditor added, "Consenting adults or not, if my mother started sleeping with one of my partner’s siblings…I’d be so angry and embarrassed by her. If my partner’s mom slept with my brother, I’d be very creeped out and bothered by it."

Read more about a woman who stood up for herself against her mother-in-law who made insulting comments toward her.