Marrying someone tends to come with baggage, even if it’s just their family. While sometimes this is a wonderful opportunity to make a sort of second family, some folks have absolutely terrible relatives.
A woman turned to the internet for advice when her MIL made some downright horrible comments about her body. Her husband supported her and the couple left immediately, but OP still wanted to vent to the internet. Bored Panda has reached out to OP via Reddit and will update the story when she gets back to us.
Marrying someone sometimes means dealing with their parents
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One woman shared her experience with a cruel and nasty MIL
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Image credits: Upset_Call_
OP was right to leave the situation immediately
Body shaming, for one reason or another, is a tale nearly as old as time. Shaming someone for their weight, interestingly, is a relatively modern phenomenon, due to the simple fact that being “overweight” has been impossible for the vast majority of the population until quite recently. It’s also important to note that we have no indication that OP is actually overweight. Given that she is coming off of a pregnancy, these sorts of comments are just insensitive.
Indeed, many MILs would be ecstatic to be grandmothers, but OP’s MIL seems to be content to make personal attacks for the express reason of making her feel bad. The use of strawberries is also quite questionable, as OP indicates that they have dinner together quite often. The MIL should know better. It would seem that she has no excuse for ignorance and is instead entirely malicious.
Most people are already familiar with the idea of a MIL joke, which begs the question, what came first, the horrible MIL or the jokes at their expense? Some might argue that there is never smoke without a flame, although it’s pretty easy to argue that making fun of older women throughout history was a classic case of “punching down.”
MIL jokes are quite old, perhaps for a reason
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For example, some of the first recorded MIL jokes date back to the Roman Empire, with poet Juvenal writing, mockingly, that happiness can’t be achieved while one’s mother-in-law is still alive. Certainly, OP might be able to see the truth in these words. Setting aside ancient sources, the internet is littered with stories of in-laws being insufferable.
OP is fortunate that her husband doesn’t side with his mother, as is, sadly, too often the case. Despite objectively horrible personality traits, some folks stick with their family when they really should be going no contact. A mother who body shames your wife, particularly post-pregnancy should be cut out and left to dry.
The real question is why the rest of the family didn’t take any action. To play the devil’s advocate, they may have just wanted to get through the rest of the dinner in peace. Unfortunately, some people might be so used to the MIL’s behavior, that they are simply happy that it’s not being directed at them.
Going no contact is the best option
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Ultimately, these sorts of stories are what compel many couples to limit their contact with their relatives. While the family’s reaction sucks, at least OP has her husband to support her. As many commenters note, the statement about her weight was nasty, but the use of strawberries veers into the territory of evil.
Purposefully centering an entire meal around something a guest is allergic to is behavior so horrible, that it would be cliche in a sitcom. Indeed, it should serve as a warning to the other family members at that table, that this woman will reach new lows if she decides that she no longer likes you.
Readers were shocked at the MIL’s actions
