r/AITAH•
clawsomewit

AITAH for refusing to come home until my mother-in-law left because I didn't want to see her?

My MIL lives about 20 minutes away and wanted to visit my 2-month-old son before leaving on a trip. Usually when people visit, I stay home because my baby is still very young and I'm breastfeeding. However, I've recently decided that when my MIL comes for short visits, I won't be there. I'll go run errands, go to Pilates, etc. because every interaction with her seems to end badly.

For context, some things that have happened over the years include:

  • After I lost my first baby, she told me I was "weak."
  • She refused to give me my baby back when he was crying and hungry and literally moved away from me when I tried to take him.
  • She tried to pressure me into waking my sleeping newborn because she wanted to interact with him.
  • She repeatedly screamed my baby's name in his face while he was asleep.
  • She told my baby to "open his eyes" while he was trying to fall asleep.
  • When she met my son 2 days after he came home from the hospital, she took off her mask even though he had been in the NICU with lung issues and we had asked everyone to wear masks. When I asked her to put it back on, she said, "Don't cry about it."
  • She has repeatedly told people, including my husband, that I pushed him into becoming a gambling addict.
  • She told me that Mother's Day last year didn't count for me because I lost my baby.

The thing is, I haven't immediately cut her off. I've spent years trying to make this relationship work. When my husband was in rehab for his gambling addiction, I went to her house to comfort her and try to connect with her. We even invited my in-laws to meet our son the day he was born via C-section. I've tried dinners, family gatherings, conversations, and attempts to resolve issues but she still always has a way of blaming me for something or just being straight disrespectful.

The day before this visit, she once again told my husband that his gambling addiction was my fault. I texted her trying to talk about it and she ignored me.

So I told my husband that for short visits with the baby, I would simply not be there. If there's a holiday, dinner, birthday, or other family event, I'll attend. But I'm no longer forcing one-on-one interactions.

Last week was the first time I tried this new approach. I went to Pilates. When I finished, she was still at my house, so I went to the store. While driving home, my husband called and said, "She's not leaving until she sees you."

At that point I decided not to go home. I pulled over and waited because I knew she would eventually have to leave. Once she left, I went home. I then texted her, "Sorry I missed you. Hope you have a nice trip."

My husband later told me that she was upset and asking why I wouldn't come home and she felt like I was avoiding her. Which I was.

I don't feel safe or respected around her, but I also don't want to create a dramatic confrontation or tell her to her face that I don't want to see her. I thought quietly limiting contact was the least hostile option.

AITAH for refusing to come home until she left?

Posted Jun 12, 2026, 8:12 PM UTC · locked

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