A "exhausted" new mum has criticised her in-laws after they turned up at her house expecting her to cook a full feast – four weeks after she gave birth.
The mum says she found out about her husband's parents coming over when they arrived on the doorstep, leaving her embarrassed at the mess associated with looking after a baby for the first few weeks of its life. She told of the fact she hadn't been ready for visitors and had barely showered or slept for weeks.
But the Mirror reports that the in-laws were "appalled" to be served a quick and easy macaroni cheese rather than the "feasts" they were used to her making. She had even suggested to her husband that they order takeaway instead, a suggestion he turned down.
Taking to the internet message board Reddit, the mum wrote: "[My mother in law] She asked if I really found it 'appropriate' to serve her and the family mac and cheese. I asked why not and she went on a rant about how disrespectful this was and that I clearly have no experience in what is right and wrong when it comes to hosting.
"I said, 'Excuse me? Who said I signed up to host an expected visit from them?' and she took it as if I didn't want them there. Her husband said they were just there to finally see the baby that I kept them from seeing for an entire month.
"That's a whole month of his life they 'missed' out on. We had an argument and they decided to go home."
Her husband has since fallen out with her, despite complying with his wishes to produce something "homemade". The dispute has left her at her wit's end, prompting her to seek guidance from the internet.
She continued: "My husband said that deciding to serve his family mac and cheese was more offensive than serving them nothing at all. I told him I was too exhausted to cook their 'traditional feasts' that I was forced to learn from his mum.
"He took offence and said that I was being mean and disrespectful towards not only his family but his culture. I went inside the bedroom to stay with my son.
"My husband stayed on the phone with his family for an hour then kept giving me the cold shoulder and refused to eat what I cook in support of his family."
Fellow Reddit users backed up the woman and her decision to produce something quick and easy. Some even suggested that she ought to put herself first and separate.
One person wrote: "Why on earth would your husband not tell you? Also, does he need a map of the kitchen? Also, traditionally the family brings food TO the new mum, not the other way around."
Another warned: "Girl come on! The issue here is your husband.
"He has no right to talk to you the way he did ever. Least of all after you have just given birth to his child.
"You have a very long and hard road ahead of you. I strongly advise you to keep some money separate for when you need to leave."
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