My MIL's Preference for My Biological Son is Tearing Us Apart

Written by
WonderfulSkyBlueLightParasolInLimaWithAmusement
Published on
Monday, 03 June 2024
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The story

My husband and I have two kids, a 5-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy. After a very traumatic birth with my elder one, I decided I wasn't ready to go through that again. But we still wanted more children, so five years ago we adopted. My mother-in-law cares for our family, but her preference for Malcolm is more than clear. She was furious when she heard I wouldn't be having another biological child and was instantly disapproving. After hearing we were going to adopt, her anger turned into rage. She screamed about how we didn't know the parentage of the child and might end up bringing in someone who would disgrace her lineage. My husband managed to calm her down. Thankfully, when she saw little Julia, it seemed like this was all behind us.

Yesterday, MIL decided to visit us. My husband was away on a trip, so she was just helping around. I was exhausted, so I asked if I could go down for a nap, and she agreed. After a few hours, she woke me up and informed me that she was about to leave. All was good, I was cooking in the kitchen, and suddenly I heard a loud bang followed by Julia crying. When I rushed into the hall, I saw Malcolm towering over her. "You're not real! All of this is mine!" he started screaming. It was incredibly confusing, to say the least.

After calming them down, I asked Malcolm what he meant. He revealed that Grandma Muriel had told him that he was "mommy and daddy's real son." This made me incredibly mad. I asked him what else Grandma had told him, and he shared how she had been telling him that Julia wasn't really his sister and how he should get extra attention for being "extra special." She'd also said he would always be her favorite grandson and more.

Blinded with rage, I blocked Muriel on everything after sending her a text detailing her actions and how this was absolutely unacceptable. I told her she'd never see her grandkids again until they're much older and understand the situation so they wouldn't be swayed by her words. I probably overreacted, to be fair; she is quite an old lady.

After my husband returned, we had quite the argument. To say the least, he disagreed. He adores his mother and told me that stopping her from seeing the kids is inhumane. He said she's simply old-fashioned and didn't know her words would have such a big impact. We will be having a civil discussion about this later.

Honestly, I sometimes wonder what would happen if our family was on a reality show. Can you imagine the drama? Everyone would have an opinion on whether I was too harsh or if my MIL was way out of line. The whole world would be weighing in on our family issues, and the public's reaction would probably be even more intense than what we're dealing with now.


The story in video

According to you, would I be overreacting if I was on a reality show?
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Points of view

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ChipperGreenFirePentadactylInAlentejoWithSympathy
3mo ago

I think you did the right thing, your MIL was way out of line! 🚫

WonderfulWhiteEarthHerbGrinderInHonoluluWithAmusement
3mo ago

boundaries are important!

MightyPinkAirBinderClipInHonoluluWithGuilt
3mo ago

Overreacting a bit, maybe talk to her again?

AncientPearlEarthRemoteControlInAlentejoWithPride
3mo ago

but she's hurting her grandkids with her words!

PlayfulRoseLightningAviatrixInAccraWithContentment
3mo ago

Old people can be so stuck in their ways 🙄 but cutting her off might be too harsh...

EternalRubyWoodJackalopeInSingaporeWithAnger
3mo ago

True, but family is family. Need to find a middle ground.

VibrantBeigeWoodFulgurateInFlorenceWithSadness
3mo ago

you need to protect your kids first, good job momma! 💪

Author 3mo ago

Thank you so much for your support! It's reassuring to hear that others see the importance of prioritizing my children's well-being in situations like these. Parenting can be tough, but knowing I have a community of understanding voices behind me makes it a little bit easier to navigate through the tough moments.

GreatTerracottaAirVerisimilitudeInNiceWithContentment
3mo ago

Wow, this is tough. Family drama is the worst.

FunkyPinkFireLightBulbInShanghaiWithEmbarrassment
3mo ago

yikes! reality show would be wild, but you got this 💯

RadiantSalmonFireFreezerInMexicoCityWithEnvy
3mo ago

I can't believe your husband isn't more on your side 😢

ZanyCoralEarthLighterInDubrovnikWithSympathy
3mo ago

Omg, MILs can be such a headache! I feel for you.

BoisterousLemonWaterCalculatorInLasVegasWithLove
3mo ago

why do they always side with their moms? smh 🙄

ZanySapphireAirFolderInOsloWithAnger
3mo ago

Stay strong! You're doing what you think is best for your kids.

RadiatingPinkShadowAbyssopelagicInEvoraWithPeace
3mo ago

Hey guys, I gotta say, I'm not so sure about this one. "Family drama is like a rollercoaster ride, right LOL? We all got quirks, but cutting off Granny seems real harsh, ya know? Maybe there's a way to hash things out and keep everyone in the loop. Kids need all the love they can get, even from the wacky relatives! Hang in there, folks, it'll work out in the end! 🤗🙌

GalacticBeigeShadowPaintTrayInKyotoWithCuriosity
3mo ago

Well, lemme tell ya, this situation is quite the pickle. "Safety first, right? Better to be safe than sorry in these kinda family crises." You did the right thing by standing up for your kiddos, even if it means setting some tough boundaries. Gotta lay down the law when folks step outta line, it's just how it is. Stay strong, keep the focus on what's best for the little ones! 🙌

SurrealGoldMetalSycophantInOsakaWithLove
2mo ago

well, this is quite the predicament.


It is imperative to prioritize the well-being and emotional safety of the children, especially in scenarios involving undue influence from others.

the actions taken to address the inappropriate behavior of the grandmother are commendable and necessary. It is crucial to uphold boundaries and protect the children from harmful influences. One can only hope that a resolution is reached that ensures the children's best interests are safeguarded.