Pregnant Woman Refuses Mother-In-Law's Demand To Continue Family Tradition Of Passing On Middle Name To Granddaughter

This bold woman is standing firm against her husband's family traditions.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• June 27, 2023

In the heartwarming yet nerve-wracking journey toward parenthood, our narrator (Original Poster) and her husband, John, eagerly await the arrival of their first child, a daughter. Like any expectant parents, they are filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, ready to embrace the joys and challenges that lie ahead.

Amidst this pivotal moment in their lives, there is one issue that stands out—an issue involving OP's mother-in-law, Molly.

Molly, a woman known for repeatedly overstepping boundaries, has been a source of contention for OP and John. With John being Molly's eldest child and this baby being her first grandchild, it's no surprise that she is eager to be part of choosing a name.

The couple had already picked the perfect name for their child, which they agreed to keep a secret. However, John inadvertently reveals it to his mother out of excitement.

Everything takes a new turn at a tea party with Molly claiming that it's her right to give her incoming granddaughter a middle name. This unforeseen act of imposition leaves OP in a state of bewilderment and prompts her to seek clarity from her husband before responding further.

As the couple grapples with the clash between family traditions and their own autonomy as parents, OP finds herself torn between her past grievances towards Molly and the possibility of embracing this alien middle name.

Scroll down to find out the full details of the story.

Let's dig into the details

A little background

OP and her husband had chosen a name for their incoming daughter, which they were supposed to keep a secret. However, OP's husband's excitement got the better of him and he leaked the name to his mom

OP's MIL organized a tea party where she announced that she would be giving her incoming granddaughter a middle name

The couple has bluntly refused, and now OP's MIL is upset

Edited to add (ETA)

Here's how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

"NTA - your MIL and her 'Stepford posse' can get over themselves."

"You showed up under the guise of a tea party - what she did to you (and John) was out of line."

"If you give in to this dreadful woman at all about anything ever, you'll regret it the rest of your life"

"It’s your child, you shouldn’t feel pressured to stick to a family tradition, especially when your partner wasn’t even aware of it."

"It's the equivalent of the very-public proposal - to manipulate & guilt-trip you, while she looks 'thoughtful..'."

The response from the Reddit community is overwhelmingly supportive. Redditors rally behind OP, emphasizing that Molly has no right to impose her desires on them.

The community encourages OP not to feel pressured into accepting any traditions that do not align with their own values and choices as parents.

They remind her that boundaries are essential in preserving one's autonomy and that she should not feel guilty for wanting to assert herself in this situation.

Jesse