Mom Asks Mother-In-Law Not To Tell Her Son She's Sad When He Declines Her Hug, Stirs A Debate Among Redditors
On the r/AmItheA**hole subreddit, a mom recently shared a story about her 3-year-old refusing a hug from her future mother-in-law (FMIL). The mom then texted the MIL, asking her not to tell the child she'd be sad if he didn't hug her. This sparked a discussion among Redditors.
Some supported her, emphasizing the importance of respecting the child's choices, while others thought it was blown out of proportion and suggested an in-person talk.
Things took a turn when FMIL criticized text conversations, leading to a discussion on communication styles. Some sympathized with the mom's challenges, while others criticized her for not respecting FMIL's preference for in-person talks.
Curious about the details of what happened? Scroll down to read the entire story and the opinions of Redditors in the comments.
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Source: mom.com (not the actual photo)
Here's the full story:
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OP explained to her fiancé's mom that they're teaching their son about personal boundaries
Source: Accomplished-Disk746
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OP reiterated her stance on not wanting her kids to feel guilty or responsible for others' feelings
Source: Accomplished-Disk746
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OP asked her future mother-in-law to avoid specific comments towards the children
Source: Accomplished-Disk746
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FMIL expressed to the fiancé that she was unaware of any intentional harm and would further distance herself if needed
Source: Accomplished-Disk746
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OP messaged her future mother-in-law about boundaries and expressed difficulty with in-person conversations
Source: Accomplished-Disk746
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The commenter believes OP was in the wrong for texting about respecting boundaries while not doing the same when the mother-in-law expressed a preference for in-person conversations
Source: Such-Awareness-2960
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The commenter agrees OP was in the wrong
Source: theferal1
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OP was in the wrong for being upset that the mother-in-law expressed her feelings after the child initially refused a hug
Source: Unhappy_Ad7172
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OP's appropriate reply should have been a simple acknowledgment like "Okay. Talk soon!"
Source: Content-Purple9092
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The initial message was an overreaction to the grandmother expressing happiness about the child choosing to hug her
Source: facinationstreet
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The commenter says "everyone sucks here"
Source: Particular_Title42
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It was normal when the grandmother asked for a hug and made an innocent comment
Source: IllustriousCorgi9877
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This commenter supports the OP, stating that an in-person conversation was unnecessary
Source: terpischore761
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This Redditor agrees that the OP was not wrong and the mother-in-law's aversion to texting may be to avoid accountability
Source: MutedCommittee1970
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This person suggests a strategy to address the issue in person by reassuring the child that he doesn't have to hug someone just because they'll be sad
Source: Wonderful-Matter334
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This Redditor also supports the OP
Source: legolaswashot
What are your thoughts on this mom's approach to setting boundaries with her child and addressing it with her future mother-in-law? Have you encountered similar situations, and how did you handle them? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below!
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