AITA for no longer wanting to put up with my boyfriend’s mom?

A 30-year-old woman grew increasingly frustrated with her boyfriend’s overbearing mother after discovering her pregnancy last year. She specifically asked her 29-year-old boyfriend not to share the news until after ultrasounds, yet he told his mom—who quickly spread it to the woman’s own family without permission. The interference escalated when the boyfriend enlisted his mother to pressure her into canceling a pre-booked vacation, calling her stubborn behind her back.

Daily multi-hour phone calls between boyfriend and mom, constant unsolicited “advice,” and cruel blame after a heartbreaking miscarriage in January pushed the woman to her limit. Now she’s questioning if she’s wrong for wanting nothing more to do with his mother—and by extension, the relationship dynamic that enables her.

‘AITA for no longer wanting to put up with my boyfriend’s mom?’

The pregnancy announcement was meant to stay private, but boundaries were ignored from the start.

I (30 F) am beginning to hate my boyfriend’s (29 M) mom. It started last October when I found out I was pregnant. I told my boyfriend not to tell...

But we agreed to tell his mom as he insisted on it. A few days later, I met with my aunts and one of them said I shouldn’t eat too...

I was shocked because I haven’t told anyone from my side of the family yet. I was devastated because I wanted to be the one to tell my family about...

I asked my boyfriend if he found it weird that my aunts already know about my pregnancy and he brushed it off like it was a normal thing by saying,...

A disagreement over a pre-booked vacation revealed the boyfriend using his mother as reinforcement.

A few days later my boyfriend and I got into an arguement about a vacation I booked for us months prior to finding out. I told him that we should...

We can still go sight seeing at least before we get anchored down to the house with a baby. He was strongly opposed to it and said that it’s best...

Later in the day, my boyfriend’s mom calls me, to check in. I told her that everything was fine. There was a lull and she mentioned that “it would be...

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and that I shouldn’t be wasting money on useless trips” I immediately wanted to to drop the call. I felt suffocated. I confronted my boyfriend about it when he came...

He told me he didn’t know how else to make me listen about not going to our trip and he told his mom that I was being stubborn. I told...

and that he shouldn’t be telling his mom private matters. Then that’s where I began to notice that every little thing I do, his mom would give me “motherly advice”,...

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Tragedy struck with a miscarriage, yet the interference and blame continued unabated.

And the later on I found out that during they days when my boyfriend is at work, he and his mom are on the phone for 2 to 3 hours,

catching up (ALMOST DAILY, he has Wednesdays off and his mom doesn’t call him when he’s home) I lost the baby in January of this year.

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And his mom still had a lot to say about how we should have listened to her. So, AITA for no longer wanting to put up with my boyfriend’s mom?

This situation exposes a severe enmeshment between the boyfriend and his mother, where the partner feels like an outsider in her own relationship. The repeated boundary violations—sharing private news, weaponizing advice to override disagreements, and blaming the woman for a miscarriage—point to a dynamic where the mother’s influence trumps the couple’s autonomy.

Some might argue the boyfriend simply values his mother’s input due to close family ties, but deliberately involving her to “make” his partner comply crosses into manipulation. Dismissing valid concerns and normalizing daily hours-long calls while at work suggests emotional priorities that leave little room for an independent partnership.

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On a wider level, such patterns often persist lifelong unless the adult child actively sets boundaries, which here shows no sign of happening. The miscarriage blame adds emotional cruelty, highlighting how this interference can turn harmful during vulnerable moments. Leaving may be the healthiest option to avoid future resentment or entrapment.

Here’s what people had to say to OP:

Most users strongly urged the woman to leave the relationship entirely, viewing the boyfriend as the core issue.

[Reddit User] − NTA He won't change, she won't change. Its up to you to change and get the HELL OUT

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Independent_Tie_4984 − Run, don't walk away from this one before you get pregnant again and get stuck with his mom for as long as she lives. You're not in a...

I could go on, but you already know there's no fixing it. Don't let him try to say he'll change - his relationship with her will always be more important...

MerlinBiggs − NTA. Your main problem here is boyfriend. Dump them both and move on. Sorry about your loss.

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[Reddit User] − NTA - you need to get out of that relationship because to paraphrase the late Princess Diana "it was a bit crowded because there were three people...

Your BF and mom ignored every boundary you set, it will NOT get any better, get out while you can.

Altruistic-Key-1186 − NTA. Your boyfriend is though. His mom is an even bigger a__hole for saying that after such a traumatic situation. She sounds f__king awful, sorry you have to...

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Again, I am so sorry that happened and I don’t want this to come off the wrong way as I’m sure it might but maybe you can find some comfort...

I’d break up with your boyfriend, find someone better and try again. You deserve better. Your future child deserves better.

Several highlighted the manipulation and offered sympathy, warning of worse outcomes if children are involved.

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adoraknitting − Please leave this relationship. You will always be the ‘side-chick’ and his mother will always be his wife/girlfriend.

Eumelbeumel − I am very sorry for your loss. Use the insight you gained during this pregnancy wisely. Consider seriously if you would be able to endure another pregnancy and...

Because it would not be different the next time around. It would probably be worse, because they will use your loss to wield as a weapon against you, and guilt...

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Your BF's mom is already guilt tripping you for something that is decidedly *not* your fault, in no way, at all, ever. But she frames it as if you not...

What they are doing is highly manipulative. He uses his mother to "make you listen". She lets him. They put pressure on you. He refers to you as "stubborn" when...

Seriously think about wanting to put up with this at all. Your boyfriend's behaviour is just as questionable as his mom's. NTA.

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SubstantialSun8209 − NTA. I'm so sorry for your loss, it hurts I know. Hope you're keeping ok? I'm sorry to say this, but your bf is going to be like...

He's always going to side with his mum over you and I'm not one to play the "you need to leave" card, but you need to leave while you have...

A couple delivered blunt, concise calls to escape the toxic dynamic.

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ThornbackPotato − Run. Also, NTA.

[Reddit User] − NTA. In fact, your MIL AND your bf are the AH here. I think his interactions with his mother, going behind your back to try to control...

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are completely out of line. Some things need to stay between the two of you alone. I'm sorry for your loss, his mother seems to have acted completely inappropriately.

The overwhelming consensus clears the woman of fault while spotlighting her boyfriend’s refusal to prioritize their relationship over his mother’s involvement—even after profound loss. The pattern of boundary-crossing and blame suggests little hope for change without major confrontation he seems unwilling to undertake.

Have you dealt with an overly involved in-law who turned your partner against you? Did setting boundaries work, or was leaving the only solution? Share your experiences in the comments!

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