Mothers-in-laws are often included in the birth of their grandchild and always want what’s best for them. Of course, with the birth mother’s understanding and permissions. One mother-in-law crossed this line by taking it to the next level… or should we say the next category, because it’s pretty excessive.
One mom has revealed that she recently discovered her mother-in-law had changed her newborn baby’s middle name while she was asleep and recovering from a C-section. The mom didn’t find out about this until two months later. She wrote about this in an advice column letter to Slate. Take a look below.
Read this one angry mom’s letter to Slate below:
“Dear Care and Feeding,
My son is 2 months old, and I just discovered my husband spelled our son’s middle name as “Finlay” instead of “Finley” on all of his legal documentation. I, of course, am furious, because I told him I was fine with the middle name but it had to be spelled Finley—and he agreed before our son was ever born.
His mother even sent a Christmas gift to middle name “Finlay,” and when I made a comment to my husband he didn’t even have the decency to tell me! He just let me keep believing for two months that our son’s middle name was spelled Finley when it legally isn’t! I discovered this all when I went looking for his Social Security card and birth certificate to file them away properly. He says he regretted it as soon as the card came and has been afraid to tell me.
[…]
My husband is very much also at fault for doing this in the first place and we are working through that together, but I feel as though something needs to be said to my mother-in-law. Do I approach her about this? Do I let my husband approach her about this? Do we approach her together? What should I say? I have no desire to have any sort of relationship with her moving forward, so I am not worried about playing nice.
I will be legally changing my son’s name to the correct spelling.
—Mama Bear”
The advice column writer responded, but not without having a few choice words for both the mother-in-law and the husband involved. Most importantly, the writer confirmed that this woman’s husband owes her a ‘significant and full-throated apology’. Furthermore, the writer calls it a situation of serious distrust and wishes the new mom luck on her journey in addition to giving her other advice.
Yikes.
What we know for sure is, that columnist is definitely right in her advice and we hope this mom gets things straightened out. You can read the full column here.
Be sure to SHARE this article with your thoughts on this crazy story!
Let’s switch gears for a moment and check out the adorable video below of this newborn making cute, silly faces:
Mark says
I would give the mother in-law a very big piece of my mind and then some. And the mama’s boy would be getting it too. Not cool at all a marriage is the joining of two not three.
Shirley says
Mark, it is the husband’s place to talk to and handle things with his family
Mark says
Unless he lacks that spine to do so which this would seem to be the case
Shirley says
Mark, if you will read my other post I said the hubby needs to grow a backbone. It’s right above the post I replied to.
Mark says
Oh I did Shirley that’s why I said THAT spine!! 🙂
Shirley says
First off. hubby needs to grow a backbone and stand up to his mother. Second, this was a name decided and agreed upon, before birth, between husband and wife. The MIL had no business changing the baby’s name. The husband needs to be the one to tell his Mom firmly that the spelling of the middle name is being legally changed and from that point on, if she chooses to use the middle name, it must be spelled Finley NOT Finlay. Period! Any cards, letters, etc. sent with Findlay would be returned to sender requesting they use the spelling picked by the parents, FINLEY. It is the husband’s place to talk / handle his family, and the wife’s place to do the same with her family.
Kelley Lane says
who gave her the ppr work and who processed it
Carrie says
I have a friend who’s mother didn’t like the first name of her first grandchild so informed my friend, “your dad said I didn’t have to call her that!” So my friend picked a different name. Ugh.