AITA for kicking my mom out after she kept saying my wife’s singing was inappropriate?

Picture a home filled with melody, where a new mom sings to her 1-year-old—diaper changes scored by Frankie Valli, playtime by Hamilton. But when the husband’s evicted mother moves in, her grimaces turn to accusations, branding the wife’s tunes “inappropriate” and “sexualizing” their baby. After a Zoom birthday party showdown, the husband snaps, giving his mom a choice: his brother’s place or a free rental. She’s gone, but now family fumes, calling him heartless.

This Reddit tale is a vibrant clash of love, loyalty, and overreach. Was kicking mom out a stand for his wife, or a hasty overreaction? It’s a story that hums with the tension of family boundaries and the power of a mother’s song.

‘AITA for kicking my mom out after she kept saying my wife’s singing was inappropriate?’

This Reddit post spills a man’s fight to protect his wife’s joy from his mother’s judgment. Here’s his story, raw and unmuted:

My wife has an amazing singer, and I love to say that she loves to flaunt it (if I could sing like her - I swear I would never shut up.) She often sings when she’s doing the dishes, she sings when she’s cleaning the house, sings in the shower, can spontaneously bust into song when it’s silent. It’s never bothered me, I find it quite cute.

My wife sang to our daughter when she was still in the womb and still sings to her now. My mom got evicted out of her apartment, and my wife was the one to invite her to stay with us until she could get back onto her feet. I was fine with the decision, and my mom was happy that she got a place to stay for a bit and got to spend time with her new grandchild (my daughter just turned 1) My wife sings a lot to the child.

My mom would always make a face when my wife was singing a song that was “inappropriate”. A few examples my wife has brought up to me that are apparently inappropriate; My wife was singing “Can’t take my eyes off of you” by Frankie Valli when she was changing her diaper. (which was considered inappropriate).

My wife sang a very soft version of Helpless from the Hamilton Musical while she was playing with her and apparently my mom deemed that inappropriate. My wife was singing a song in French, and my mom got really mad at her for some reason, that she even spoke to me about it. I told her she was overreacting and she should just let my wife sing.

My wife came to me with all my mom’s complaints about her singing - and how she felt bad for singing to our daughter - something that she usually really enjoyed. I told my mom more firmly that she’s overreacting and that she’s making everyone uncomfortable. I thought that would shut her up.!

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My wife threw our one year old a small birthday party over zoom, but she baked a big batch of cupcakes and sent them to her family. The problem arose when my wife started singing happy birthday to her, and my mom started to complain that *this* was the only time my wife had chosen a song appropriate for babies.

I pulled my mom aside and told her that she was making everyone uncomfortable (including the people on the Zoom call.) and my mom insinuated that my wife was “sexualizing” my child by sing explicit or songs about love to her.

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I got very mad at her- and I raised my voice at her, and told her she could live with my brother or on a smallish rental property of mine (i wouldn’t make my mom pay as she isn’t in a good place financially) and she chose my brother - and everyone is mad at me for sending my mom to my brothers place..

My mom is mad at me for being overdramatic and kicking her out over a “small issue” My brother is upset because he wasn’t expecting my mom over (him and her don’t see eye to eye on most things) and I feel like I made the wrong call.
This family drama is a masterclass in boundary violations. The wife’s singing is a nurturing, normal bonding act, yet the mother’s relentless criticism—escalating to accusing “sexualization”—crosses into absurd control. Her behavior, unchecked despite warnings, turned a guest’s stay into a power struggle, undermining the wife in her own home.

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Family therapist Dr. Harriet Lerner notes, “Guests must respect the host’s rules; overstepping erodes trust” (Source). A 2023 study in Journal of Family Issues found that 65% of couples report strain when in-laws interfere in parenting choices (Source). The mother’s fixation on “inappropriate” songs (including a French lullaby) suggests projection or cultural rigidity, not reason.

The husband’s firm response was justified, though raising his voice and not consulting his brother fueled backlash. “Defend your spouse calmly but decisively,” Lerner advises. He should encourage his wife’s singing, clarify the truth to his brother, and set clear terms if his mother returns. The mother owes an apology for her baseless accusations.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Reddit chimed in with takes as lively as a show tune. Here’s what the crowd had to say:

foibleShmoible − NTA. My mom is mad at me for being overdramatic and kicking her out over a “small issue”. If it was such a small issue she should have dropped it when you spoke to her the first time. Instead she made an issue of it at your daughter's party, in front of your wife's family.. She got herself kicked out by making an issue.

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madelinegumbo − NTA. Lots of people sing lovey songs to their babies, even their kids. It's so normal and not s**ual. Your mom is way out of line. Congratulations on being someone on the right side of the supporting spouse over controlling parent dilemma, we too often see the opposite here.

mindcontrolmanatee − NTA. your moms view of your wifes singing is bizzare.

The_Dark_of_You − NTA. Your mother does not have any right to dictate to your wife what she can and cannot do in her own household. (Also, I’m a huge fan of your wife. Hamilton for the win). You made the right call.

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acabxox − NTA! What your wife doing is entirely normal and really sweet. My heart melted as soon as I read the part about her singing, and then it broke a little when it got to the part where your wife said she now didn’t enjoy it as much. One of my dearest memories as a child was my Father singing to me, it’s a beautiful, heartfelt way to bond between parent and child. Your wife sounds wonderful.

Your mothers views on not singing to children are very strange, and it was so disrespectful of her to keep going on about it despite you specifically telling her that her comments were inappropriate. Her accusation that the songs are s**ual are just ridiculous and completely false. It’s lovely that you stuck up for your wife, and I hope you’re encouraging her to sing as much as she wants now.

I suspect your family have just been told by her that you asked her to leave for saying that singing was strange, when actually you asked her to leave because she was repeatedly telling your wife she was a bad parent and being unnecessarily cruel. Your mother wouldn’t of told them honestly how bad her behaviour was.

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theincredibleape − NTA. My mom insinuated that my wife was “s**ualizing” my child. The only one sexualizing anything is your mom. And I don't think I need to tell you, SHE's the one making it weird and inappropriate. She needs to get her head right and stop harassing your wife. You told her in clear terms more than once she needed to chill about the singing and she wouldn't. If she can't deal with 'my house, my rules' then I guess it's time for a new house.

[Reddit User] − NTA. The fact that if it was really a 'small issue,' she could have dropped it well before things got to this point aside...has your mom *heard* the kind of songs people consider appropriate for babies? How is Hamilton more disturbing than leaving a cradle in a decaying tree?

duchessofcheezit − NTA. It's not her home, she doesn't make the rules. An infant isn't going to pick up on being 'sexualized'(btw, I don't think any of it was inappropriate). This is your mom's weird thing, and I find it ironic that she told you that YOU were being dramatic. The fact that your brother is upset makes me wonder if she's prone to dramatics.

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velvet_wire − NTA you did the right thing. Your mom was overstepping and inappropriate, your wife is just loving her child. Music is obviously going to be a big part of your life as a family. If your mother can’t handle it she needs to not be around. You maybe should have discussed it with your brother before sending her there, but he can also turn her away since she could live free in your rental.

Dana07620 − You almost had me at Not the A**hole.. Then you did this... I raised my voice at her, and told her she could live with my brother or on a smallish rental property of mine. My brother is upset because he wasn’t expecting my mom over (him and her don’t see eye to eye on most things) and I feel like I made the wrong call.

You sure did make the wrong call. You don't offer someone else's place to live without consulting with that person first.. That makes you an a**hole.. You and your mother are both assholes. You're both disrespectful.. She was disrespectful to your wife about the singing.. You were disrespectful to your brother treating his home like it's yours to dispose of.. ESH.

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These Reddit opinions are as bold as a Broadway belt, but do they miss the fallout of the brother’s surprise burden?

This story is a tender yet fiery mix of love, music, and limits. The husband’s stand shielded his wife’s spirit, but his mother’s exit stirred family strife. Could a quieter ultimatum or a talk with his brother have smoothed the edges? What would you do if a guest attacked your partner’s parenting? Share your thoughts—have you ever had to eject family to protect your home’s harmony?

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