NEED TO KNOW
- A mother is fed up with her partner’s parents demanding to see her 8-month-old baby every day
- In a post on Reddit, the mom explained that they were initially only supposed to babysit the infant for four hours a day during the week
- “I got irritated with my partner about it and it caused a disagreement,” she said
A new mom is calling time on her partner’s parents’ constant need to be around her 8-month-old baby.
On Monday, July 28, the mother explained on Reddit’s Am I the A—— forum that her future in-laws babysit for four hours each weekday while she and her partner go to work. She said that the arrangement has remained in place even though her partner is currently off work due to an injury.
Despite seeing the infant five days a week, the mom revealed her partner’s parents have also insisted on seeing the baby “every” weekend. She recently missed out on bonding time with the tot as they enforced their plan to take the baby swimming.
“By the time I pick baby up from his parents’ house after work, I get baby for 1-2 hours before baby goes to bed (I work 7:30 am – 5 pm),” the original poster (OP) said. “Weekends are the only time I get more time with her.”
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The mother said her partner’s parents want an “excessive” amount of time with their first grandchild. Her own parents only get to see the baby once a month because of how much time her future in-laws demand.
Comparing the situation to her childhood, the OP recalled seeing one set of her grandparents every few months and the other once every 3-4 weeks.
“I feel like I don’t get enough time every day with my baby (and on the weekends when I’m not working) and it’s honestly making me feel bitter towards them and my partner,” she said.
“They’re saving us money without having to pay for daycare, which I’m grateful for,” the mom continued. “I just don’t get why they insist on seeing her on the weekends too.”
“I got irritated with my partner about it and it caused a disagreement,” she said. “He doesn’t think it’s excessive or anything, but that they just want to see their grandchild, even if it means less time as a family we spend together.”
Having confessed that she doesn’t “f—ing get it,” the mom asked, “AITA [am I the a——] for not wanting them around all the time?”
Responses to the post agreed with the mother that her partner’s parents were being unreasonable with the amount of time they expected with her baby.
Several commenters argued that her partner should speak to them about it.
“Your bf [boyfriend] is really happy to not have to care for his child on weekends, so off the baby goes to his mother/father,” one person said. “He will not say no to his parents for that reason, more than likely.”
“Simply tell your future ILs [in-laws] that you really appreciate the childcare they provide during the week but that you will no longer bother them when YOU are free and not working so that you can enjoy your child to the fullest,” the same person continued.
“NTA [not the a——]Deal directly with the ILs. Your bf needs to come to grips with parenthood before you marry, though,” they added. “Be sure that he understands that he will need to be available for his child when he is off work.”
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