New mom kicks mother-in-law out of house for refusing to call grandson by his real name, embroiders a blanket with the name “David” instead of "Elijah": "It's not even a nickname"

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Feb 21, 2025 5:00 PM EST

Did you have a nickname growing up? Despite being Latin American, I happily managed to dodge the whole tradition wherein one's biggest insecurity becomes their nickname. For example, my cousin, who is now a 30-year old adult and about six feet tall, is still lovingly referred to as "el Chaparro" (the Short One) by the entire family. My nickname amongst my relatives is "Mimia," stemming from my inability to pronounce my own name as a toddler. While I don't mind being called that, there are plenty of people who do not personally identify by the monikers bestowed upon them by family members.

In our story today, a new grandma gives her grandson a nickname – a special name that only she calls him. Except it's not really a nickname; it's a whole other name that has nothing to do with the one given to him by his own mother. Our protagonist becomes increasingly irritated at her mother-in-law's insistence in calling her baby "David" rather than "Elijah," and the whole situation ends in grandma getting kicked to the curb. Scroll down for all the juicy deets. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    AITA Kicking My MIL Out Our House After She Refused Call Our Son by His Name?

    "Wait... why do you keep calling him David?"
    via Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My husband (34M) and I (31F) recently had our first child, a son we named Elijah. We put a lot of thought into his name, we loved the meaning, and it just felt right. My MIL (62F) had no strong opinions about it at first. She didn't gush over it, but she also didn't object. Or so we thought.
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 03
    The first time she met Elijah at the hospital, she looked at him and said, "Oh little David you're so perfect" I thought I misheard her, so I ignored it. But then she said it again. I asked her, "Who's David?" and she just smiled and said, "Oh it just suits him better".
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 04
    I was too exhausted from labor to argue, but over the next few weeks, she kept calling him David, texting us things like "How's my little David doing
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 05
    today?" or "Give David a kiss for me!" I told her, firmly, that his name is Elijah. She laughed and said, "Oh, I know! But I think he just feels like a David".
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10470878208
    via ezoom
  • 07
    Neither my husband nor I know anyone named David. It's not a family name. There's no sentimental reason behind it. It's just a completely random name she decided to call my child, despite us telling her not to.
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 08
    At first we tried to let it go hoping she'd stop if we ignored it. But it only got worse. When we FaceTimed her, she'd coo at him saying "Grandma loves you, David!" She even started knitting a baby blanket with the name David embroidered on it.
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 09
    The final straw was when she came over for a family dinner and kept referring to him as David in front of everyone. My SIL asked, "Wait... why do you keep calling him David?" and MIL just laughed and said, "Because that's his name to me."
    via u/LittlePeach212

  • In the right context, this could be the plot to a movie. Who is David? Is he the secret to uncovering grandma's past? Is Elijah possessed by the spirit of someone named David, and only grandma knows? I'm thinking a psychological drama-type film. 

  • 10
    DAVID
    via Stefan Petersohn
  • 11
    That's when I lost it. I said, "No, his name is Elijah, and if you can't respect that, you don't need to be here". She rolled her eyes and tried to wave me off, but I wasn't having it. I told her to leave. She looked shocked, but she left without much of a fight.
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 12
    Now my husband is upset with me. He agrees that his mom was being weird and disrespectful, but he thinks kicking her out was "too extreme" and that I
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 13
    should've just let it go. MIL is now playing the victim, telling everyone that I'm "keeping her grandson from her over a harmless nickname".
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 14
    Some family members think I overreacted. Others agree that her behavior was bizarre. I don't know... was I really in the wrong for putting my foot down? AITA?
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 15
    All_Mischief_Managed NTA this is weird behavior, and your feelings are valid. I also find it odd that your husband thinks you overreacted, but you literally just told her to use the correct name or to leave. It sounds like she made her choice and now she's upset with you.
    via u/All_Mischief_Managed
  • 16
    LittlePeach212 OP It really is, and I'm still wondering who the f David is hahah or why she chose that name. As for my husband he's always had a hard time going against his mom in anything.
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 17
    WaryScientist You wouldn't have had to kick your MIL out if your husband actually stood up and made his mother stop. Also, David isn't a nickname. "Eli" would be a nickname
    via u/WaryScientist
  • 18
    Sufficient-Lie1406 I think you should start calling him by another name to see how he likes it.
    via u/Sufficient-Lie1406
  • 19
    NTA Pandoratastic Start calling your MiL, your husband, and every family member who says you overreacted "David". All of them are "David" now.
    via u/Pandoratastic
  • 20
    CaligoAccedito I love this. If MIL loves the name so much, it should become her name. Chaos-goblin energy, and it's hilarious.
    via u/CaligoAccedito
  • 21
    Accurate Mulberry_56 NTA. Only call your husband by the wrong name for a week and see how he likes it
    via u/Accurate_Mulberry_56

  • Totally agree that this is a husband problem. It is a major red flag that neither he, nor anyone else in his family, is standing up to this behavior. 

  • 22
    LittlePeach212 OP Right, he has always been a bit of a momma's boy so him taking her side doesn't surprise me but this is still our son we're talking about.
    via u/LittlePeach212
  • 23
    Glimmertidee NTA. It's your child, and you and your husband chose his name. She's being incredibly disrespectful and manipulative, and you were perfectly within your rights to ask her to leave.
    via u/Glimmertidee
  • 24
    NTA Knittingfairy09113 Remind your husband that his mom could have stayed if she respected the 2 of you as parents and used the correct name. She chose this.
    via u/Knittingfairy09113
  • 25
    Bag Groundbreaking170 You have a husband problem. This is his Mother. He has no spine. Mommas boy clear as day
    via u/BagGroundbreaking170
  • 26
    naranghim NTA. It isn't a "harmless nickname" it's a completely different name and it disrespects the choice you and your husband made. I'd start calling her a random name and when she gets upset throw her words back at her:
    via u/naranghim
  • 27
    "Karen. Well, that's your name to me." "Oh, it's just a harmless nickname. I don't know why you are so upset." If she keeps it up, once Elijah learns to talk, he's going to let her have it, in toddler fashion.
    via u/naranghim
  • 28
    AidanAva No. Don't play games as suggested by some. This isn't a game scenario. It's time you wrote a message to everybody detailing how. I disrespectful and weird this behaviour is. If anyone has a problem this calling ur son by anything other than his given name then they won't be welcome in your life. F noise. Seriously. is wrong with ur husbands family !!
    via u/AidanAva
  • 29
    Childless_Catlady42 Start worrying about her mental health and how memory is the first thing to go as one get older. Such a shame that she can't remember what her only grandchild's name is, has she talked to her doctor about this?
    via u/Childless_Catlady42

Tags

family drama marriage baby names married with children wife reddit story parenting husband couples new parents mother in law new mom reddit thread red flag Reddit raising kids
Scroll Down For The Next Article