First-time mom demands her mother-in-law stop calling herself “Mom” to her newborn baby after she posts publicly with the caption “Mommy’s girl,” then forced to ban in-person visits when grandma refuses: ‘She hasn't apologized’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
May 6, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Some people respond to an age-related crisis by cosplaying their youth, maybe splurging on a flashy red convertible or squeezing into skinny jeans with questionable zipper integrity. But not every midlife meltdown can be contained to the dealership floor: some take a hard left turn straight into the delivery room of their adult children, ready to relive their "Mommy and Me" glory days, regardless of whether anyone else is buckled up for the ride.

This, unfortunately, is the road our first-time mom's mother-in-law has chosen. She doesn't miss late nights or dance floors, she misses her first-time mom days, and she's determined to make up for lost snuggles by launching a one-woman identity crisis and dragging the entire family in with her.

Forget red sports cars, this mother-in-law is driving everyone crazy in a vehicle with zero fuel economy, that emits pure drama. 

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  • When she’s not offering unsolicited advice or hovering in every frame, she’s promoting herself to “Mommy” in front of the actual mom.

    And when an “end of the road” sign is put up, the emotional airbags are deploying at full force: tears, texts, and Facebook declarations designed to recruit backup. If you thought midlife reinvention was about yoga, travel, or questionable clothing, think again, because sometimes it looks like a one-sided custody battle for a title that was never up for grabs.

  • "AITAH for telling my MIL to stop calling herself "Mom" to my baby?"

    "Please don't call yourself Mom around my daughter. It's confusing, and it's not your role"
    via ezoom

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I was so happy when I gave birth to my daughter four months ago. Shes my first child and honestly it's been a rollercoaster ride for me. My husband has been great
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  • but the problem started with his mom. From day one my MIL has been very involved. She visited the hospital the day after I gave birth and was constantly hovering
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  • offering advice I didn't ask for. I chalked it up to excitement. But then things started getting weird. She began referring to herself as Mommy when holding my
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  • Cheezburger Image 10501518336
    via JasonDoiy

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • daughter. At first I thought I misheard. But she kept doing it. When I gently corrected her she laughed it off like I was being silly. I told my husband it made
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  • me uncomfortable and he agreed it was odd but didn't want to confront her because according to him "that's just how she is."
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  • So I did. The next time she said it, I calmly said to her that, Please don't call yourself Mom around my daughter. It's confusing, and frankly, it's not your role. She
    via mapleandpancakes
  • Cheezburger Image 10501518848
    via Daniela Jovanovska-Hristovska

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • looked shocked then told me I was overreacting and that babies don't understand titles at this age. I stood firm and said, Maybe not now, but she will soon. And
    via mapleandpancakes
  • I'm her mom. You're her grandma. That should be a special title too. She got upset and left early. Later that day, I got a long text about how I embarrassed her, how she
    via mapleandpancakes
  • was just expressing lov and how I'm being territorial and insecure. Now some of my in-laws are saying I hurt her feelings and should apologize because it's not
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  • like she's trying to replace me. I don't think I'm being insecure I just want clear. My baby will only have one mom.
    via mapleandpancakes
  • So... AITAH for telling my MIL to stop calling herself "Mom" to my baby? Update:
    via mapleandpancakes
  • Thanks to everyone who commented reading your responses really helped me feel more grounded. I wanted to give an update because things
    via mapleandpancakes
  • definitely escalated, but in some unexpected ways. So, after the confrontation and her dramatic exit, my MIL went full hurt grandma mode. She told
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  • extended family I banned her from seeing the baby (which I didn't and that I accused her of trying to kidnap her granddaughter (???). The group
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  • texts got wild. A few flying monkeys started chiming in about how I need help and how babies don't care what you call yourself anyway. I didn't respond to any of
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  • it. My husband finally stepped up and called her directly. He told her she needed to respect boundaries or there would be consequences. She cried (again), said she was just trying to love
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  • the baby the way she knew how and that I was turning him against her. She posted a photo of her holding our daughter on Facebook with the caption, Mommy's girl. Publicly. Tagging
    via mapleandpancakes
  • family. That was my breaking point. I immediately texted her and said, Until you can respect the fact that I am her mother not you we are going to take a break from visits. My husband backed me up 100%. We've since limited
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  • contact to just polite texts and occasional check-ins and no in- person visits for now. She hasn't apologized. So far, life has been a lot more peaceful. I've gotten
    via mapleandpancakes
  • some icy texts from a couple family members, but more surprisingly a few others reached out privately to say they had similar issues with her and respected how I handled it. Thank you for your support
    via mapleandpancakes

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family drama inheritance brother mother tradition siblings family feud favoritism wedding aunt in laws mother in law sister fiancé grandmother Father
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