Experiencing humiliation and disrespect at your own baby shower, particularly from your mother-in-law, can be incredibly challenging. Regrettably, Gwen, a soon-to-be mother, found herself navigating this awkward scenario in the presence of her close ones. The gift from her mother-in-law distressed her to the point where she felt compelled to ask her to leave the celebration. Now, Gwen is seeking advice on how to proceed.

“My mother-in-law never accepted me into the family. Surprisingly, at my baby shower, she seemed sweet and was all smiles. I thought she had started to like me now that I was about to give her her first grandson.

It was time to open the gifts, and the whole room fell into silence as I unwrapped her present. I felt nauseous when I saw she gave me a collection of condescending parenting guides and parenting books with insulting titles.

There was a stack of about 12 books. The titles read, Why Your Kids Hate You: A Brutally Honest Guide to Parenting, The Idiot’s Guide to Raising Kids: Foolproof Parenting Techniques, Parenting 101: How to Avoid Raising a Total Disaster, etc.

It was obvious that all these books were meant to imply that I am going to be a bad mother and embarrass me in front of all my friends and family.

I acted as if I wasn’t hurt and tried my best to keep a happy face, even though everyone knew that I was furious deep down.

20 minutes later, I went to her and gave her back the books and asked her to leave my party. Things have been super awkward between us ever since, and I am not sure how to handle the future with her in it.

Yours,
Gwen”