Reddit users supported a woman who stated that she had left her own birthday party when her sisters-in law announced her pregnancies.
In a post shared on the popular Reddit forum “Am I the A******,” u/biology-eater, who is unable to have children, said her two sisters-in-law, “Emily” and “Diane,” gifted her a shirt that read “Best Future Aunt X2,” two positive pregnancy tests and a photo of the two of them with their stomachs touching. She said that she knew from her sisters-in-law that u/biology was not able to have children.
After receiving the gifts, u/biology ateer stated that she suffered a panic attack and had to leave the party. This triggered some backlash.
She asked, “AITA, for making a scene following my SILs’ pregnancies at mine birthday as a present,” in her title to her post which received more than 10,000 votes.
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Expert Advice
Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW, told Newsweek If a woman is pregnant, they should be sensitive if they share their news and information with someone who can’t have children.
She stated that “Knowing they are pregnant doesn’t mean they aren’t happy about your pregnancy.” It is also a reminder about their inability to conceive.
Waichler suggested that a pregnant woman should tell a friend or relative who is unable to have children in a confidential manner.
She said, “Ask them if they can let you know how you can help.” “Give them permission not be at baby-focused events and let them know that you understand and won’t take it personally.”
Waichler suggested that those who are unable to have children should tell a friend or family member who is pregnant they are happy for them. However, they also need to understand that it can be hard to be around pregnant people at times.
She said, “Together maybe you can celebrate their baby,”
Waichler stated that friends and family members can remind each other that their primary goal is to maintain their own mental health.
She stated, “Share as many as you feel comfortable sharing about your emotional, physical, and medical challenges that you have been facing,”
“AITA?”
u/biology–eater shared that, although she had initially planned a small party on her birthday, the number of people attending grew rapidly as her friends and family dropped in.
She said that the party was successful despite having more people than she intended. She started to open gifts, and things turned bad.
After opening the gifts she received from her sisters-in law, u/biology–eater asked if they were still pregnant. Emily took the shirt to her table and showed it off to the other guests.
“As I started to cry, I ran outside with my boyfriend,” u/biology eater said. “I was having panic attacks.”
The couple returned to the party to find other guests congratulating each other on their pregnancies. u/biology–eater and her boyfriend spoke with their parents and left without speaking to other guests.
u/biology eater stated that she received some “nasty” text messages from her boyfriend’s relatives, who implied that she had destroyed the pregnancy announcement.
She stated that she doesn’t want her boyfriend’s relationship to his family to be strained by the events at the party.
Redditors react
Reddit users joined the comments section to support u/biology eater.
“Why would they co-opt your birthday? You can’t even be compassionate when you get emotionally? Redditor: “I don’t know whether everyone in your bf’s family is AHs, but whoever sent that text about ruining an announcement definitely is.”
Reddit user: “This was unnecessarily cruel.” “I can’t believe they thought this was OK.”
One Redditor said, “They took over your birthday party and made it about them.” This speaks to me about laziness. Rather than setting up a separate gathering with their friends, they saw an opportunity at an existing gathering to announce. Yours.”
Newsweek To get more information, we reached out to u/biology/eater We were unable to verify the details.
Other Reddit users have turned to the “Am I the A******” forum for advice and insight.
A man was given support after refusing to pay college tuition fees for his biological son. One woman was supported for turning off her husband’s alarm that often wakes him up.
Another post was about a worker who received backlash because of their provocative questions about a coworker’s family.
We would love to hear from you if you’re facing the same family problems. Your story may be published on Newsweek if we have access to experts.