Furious Mother-In-Law Upset As Boyfriend's Daughter Declines Naming Grandchild In Memory Of Baby She Lost Twenty Years Ago During Childbirth

"She insisted I was rude and selfish for not even considering McKenna as a name."

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• July 29, 2023

For many parents, the process of choosing a name for their baby is a deeply sentimental and personal journey. It is a decision that holds great significance as it bestows an identity upon the new life they are bringing into the world. In most cases, parents are unwavering in their stance to name their child by themselves, valuing the emotional connection and meaning behind the chosen name.

However, complications can arise when family members, particularly in-laws, express their desires to influence the name selection process. Such a situation is illustrated in a Reddit post where a young couple is expecting a baby girl, and the boyfriend's mother strongly advocates for a specific name due to her poignant personal history with it.

The expectant parents have decided to keep the baby's gender a secret until birth, intending to have the joy of unveiling the surprise together. Nevertheless, the boyfriend's mother persistently presses for the baby's gender, as she feels entitled to participate in the name selection process.

The young couple firmly states that they want to make this decision independently, emphasizing that the chosen names are a reflection of their own emotions and attachments. You can only imagine the complications.

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After two years of being together, OP and her BF unexpectedly learns that they are expecting a child, despite one of them never desiring parenthood.

Though hesitant, they embrace the idea of starting a family at a young age, recognizing it as a preferable option to other potential outcomes.

They discovered they are expecting a baby girl, a long-awaited granddaughter for the boyfriend's mother who had two sons.

Despite this, they made a joint decision to keep the baby's gender a surprise until her birth.

During a dinner outing with his parents, they engaged in a conversation about baby names, possibly hinting at their future plans and the excitement surrounding their journey into parenthood.

The couple kept the baby's gender a surprise but faced pressure from the boyfriend's mother to reveal it for naming purposes.

They stood firm on their decision to choose the names themselves, planning to honor the boyfriend's late father with "Scott" as the middle name for a boy and considering "McKenna" for a girl.

Her boyfriend's mother experienced the heartbreaking loss of a baby girl named McKenna years ago.

Though sympathetic, OP isn't keen on using the name for their own daughter since her boyfriend hasn't expressed a wish to name their child after his late sister.

OP was called rude and selfish for not considering the name McKenna.

Naming their son after OP's late father is meaningful and understandable, considering the deep emotional value and the desire to honor his memory.

Given her boyfriend's lack of prior knowledge about the name "McKenna," their decision to prioritize personal significance is justified.

Honoring her late father with a meaningful name is important, and avoiding the name "McKenna" will allow her daughter to have her own identity without carrying the weight of her boyfriend's mother's lost child.

Never trust that MIL!

It's time for MIL to discover the art of minding her own grand-business and respecting your autonomy, just as her mother-in-law did when naming her son.

Luckily, OP's boyfriend knows how to set boundaries with his mother.

MIL's request is out of line, so make sure to keep her out of the delivery room and even let the nurses know to ensure she stays out!

She should have no say in anything regarding OP's baby...

It's OP's decision on how she wants to approach parenthood, and her choice of baby names should be respected without judgment.

The baby's name is ultimately OP's decision, and she should stick to her guns and not compromise just to appease her MIL's request!

People often assume they have the right to dictate baby names, but in truth, the decision solely rests with the parents.

NTA. Avoid the potential lifetime of drama and overshadowing by naming the daughter with her own unique identity. Prioritize her well-being and independence.

YTA for unintentionally becoming a real-life "Oops, I Did It Again" moment. But hey, life's full of surprises, and this one's got "parenting journey" written all over it!

NTA. It's essential for her to keep an eye on her MIL to prevent any "baby name bandit" behavior and ensure her child is called by the name she and her partner have chosen. Don't let the MIL's naming ambitions steal the spotlight!

NTA. MIL's naming privileges ended with her own children; now it's time for the speaker to shine as the ruler of baby names. Set those boundaries like a name-guarding ninja and keep that MIL at bay!

NTA. The parents have the final say in naming. It's crucial to prioritize the child's unique identity and avoid any undue expectations from the MIL.

Naming your own baby is something that a lot of people do not realize is actually beautiful—and it is absolutely important that the parents have a final say in these things. It is their child, after all!

What do you think about this situation, though? Comment down your thoughts or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

Sophia