Mum 'gutted' after overhearing mother-in-law call her son 'funny-looking'

The woman asked on Reddit if she was unreasonable to exclude her mum-in-law from her son’s first birthday, after previously overhearing her rude comments about her baby

Birthday parties should be a time of joy and fun – with plenty of cake obviously.

But one mum has been left embroiled in a fight after slimming down the guestlist for her son’s first birthday.

Controversially, she’s decided to exclude her husband’s mum and sister-in-law.

Now her husband has accused her of stirring up drama – but the woman has stuck to her guns, so far.

She decided the pair couldn’t come after previously overhearing them dub her son ‘funny-looking’.

They haven’t apologised for their comments – and the mum has now turned to Reddit to ask for advice on whether she acted too impulsively.

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She explained: “Three weeks after giving birth, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law came to see my son at my house. They both offered to do some housework, to help my husband and me.

“They were both in the kitchen when I went downstairs to get something. I heard my sister-in-law say “the baby … isn’t he funny looking?” my mother-in-law laughed and told her to save that conversation for another time.

“We all know that “funny looking” is code for “ugly” so I was supremely angry. When I called them out for what they were saying, they excused themselves by saying it was an innocent comment and that they weren’t being serious when they said that.

“My son’s 1st birthday is next weekend and I invited most of our relatives except my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

“When my husband asked me why I didn’t want his mother and sister there, I reminded him of what they said about our son the first time they met him, and I told him that I still can’t get over their comments (mostly because they haven’t even apologised or something similar).

“My husband is mad at me now because I refuse to have them at the party. He says that everyone makes comments about the appearance of babies and that his mother and sister did not want to hurt me by what they said.

“He says I’m being unreasonable for not forgiving them.”

Lots of people felt that the mum should try to move on and invite them to the celebration.

One wrote: “It’s been almost a year and you’re still upset about a comment that you weren’t even supposed to hear?

“Sorry, but your baby probably *was* funny looking – newborns usually are. It’s way past time to let this go. Your husband is completely right.”

A fellow mum added: “I have a two-month-old and while I think she’s just the cutest, there are times I swear she looks like an old man, especially when she’s screaming bloody murder.”

A third commented: “Your husband doesn’t agree with excluding relatives from his child’s life or important events, and it seems you’ve been stewing over this without any actual conversation for twelve months.”

“Infants often look like potatoes. Parents are so in love they just don’t see it. Sister-in-law should have saved it for a later time, but holding a grudge for a year is hard on your mental health,” wrote another.