New Parents Battle the Grandmother’s Outdated Gender Idea, But Their Unique Approach to the Baby’s Wardrobe Stirs Up the Family Even Worse.
The Original Poster (OP) and her husband find themselves entangled in a family saga surrounding the gender of their newborn baby. With a persistent mother-in-law spreading misinformation and an unconventional decision to dress their son in ‘girly’ clothes, tensions rise, leading to a dramatic climax.
A Baby Announcement With a Twist
OP, a 30-year-old woman, announced her first pregnancy with great joy. Her mother-in-law (MIL) became convinced that OP was pregnant with a girl, despite OP stating that the gender of the child was yet to be determined.
The Misinformation Spreads
When OP discovered that her mother-in-law had told the entire family that the expected baby was a girl, she tried to correct the misinformation, but to no avail. MIL suggested that OP was annoyed because she wanted a boy, which was a fabricated tale. The escalating tension was fueled by the MIL’s stubbornness.
A Name Tangled in Contention
MIL added to the confusion by asserting that OP and her husband were naming the baby girl after her own mother. This was a blatant lie, as OP’s husband had a strained relationship with his grandmother, and there was no intention to name their child after her. This led to another wave of contention in the family.
An Influx of Unwanted Baby Shower Gifts
The OP’s friends throw her a baby shower, which turns out to be a surprise. As gifts pour in that weren’t on the registry, OP receives items, including embroidered items with the grandma’s name and clothes and decor fitting for a baby girl.
The Truth is Born
Finally, the baby was born, and to no surprise to the parents, it was a boy. This revelation contradicted all the false narratives spun by the MIL, causing shock and confusion in the family. The family’s expectations had been entirely based on the MIL’s stubborn insistence.
The Pink Wardrobe Dilemma
OP and her husband found themselves with an abundance of “girly” clothes and pink onesies, thanks to the misled family members. Instead of wasting these gifts, they decided to dress their baby in these outfits.
A Discomforting Display
During family video calls and social media posts, the parents made a point to showcase their baby boy in girly attire. This stirred up discomfort among the more conservative family members, who had been thrown off by the baby’s gender and were now taken aback by the color of his clothes. The tension among family members was palpable.
A Confrontation Ignited
Following one of the Saturday calls, MIL phoned OP and her husband to berate them for their choice of clothing for the baby. She accused them of making the elders uncomfortable by not adhering to a masculine color scheme for the baby’s clothes.
Accusations of Childishness
MIL chastised the couple, accusing them of being childish and intentionally misleading about the baby’s gender based on the shape of OP’s belly during her pregnancy. She held on to her misguided beliefs despite the clear evidence that the baby was, indeed, a boy.
Staying the Course
In response to the MIL’s accusations, OP and her husband stood their ground. They made it clear that they had no intention of changing their baby’s clothes simply to suit the family’s outdated notions. The assertion of their stance deepened the conflict with the extended family.
The Promise of a Dress
The couple went a step further, telling their MIL to wait until the baby fit into the dresses they had received as gifts. They added that their son would look adorable in them. This unexpected declaration added a new twist, stirring anticipation and further raising eyebrows in the family.
A Picture for Every Dress
OP and her husband made a decision to photograph their son in each of the dresses once he fits into them. They planned to send these photos to the family, intending to normalize the sight of their son in ‘girly’ clothes.
A Family Divide
The couple’s decision led to a clear divide in the family, with some members siding with MIL while others applauded the parents’ stance. This marked a significant shift in family dynamics, setting the stage for more conflicts and discussions about gender norms and expectations in the future.
Was The Couple’s Behavior Appropriate?
The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:
Forum Responded
One reader said, “Did MIL even apologize for not listening to you since this is your baby and your first? I’m glad you are taking it in stride. I would have been really offended by the whole situation.”
Another Viewpoint
Another responder wrote: “Good parenting. Who cares what the baby wears? MIL sounds insane.”
A Different Perspective
A different person states, “Babies don’t care what they wear and have no concept of “girl” or “boy” colors which is just a marketing scheme anyway.”
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on their actions?
What would you have done in this situation?
This story is inspired by a thread from an online forum.
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