Internet Backs Woman Who Showed Husband Nasty Text From Mother-in-Law

Reddit has come to the defense of one woman who claimed in a viral post that she showed her husband a nasty text she received from her mother-in-law.

The woman shared her story in Reddit's "Am I The A**hole" forum on Sunday under the username u/throwaway-text2. Already, the post has racked up more than 22,000 votes and nearly 3,000 comments.

The Redditor explained at the beginning of her post that she and her mother-in-law have "never gotten along." According to clinical psychologist Carla Manly, this is not uncommon.

"Family members sometimes don't find our partners likable and sometimes our partners simply don't like some or all of the people in our family of origin," she told Romper.

To avoid long-term hurt, Manly said partners should have an open and honest conversation about the family, where opinions can be expressed freely and without judgment. Once that conversation's been had, the couple should work as a team to address the issues and create solutions.

"For example, if your partner is concerned about a parent's abusive nature or alcoholic tendencies, it's important to take steps with your partner to create emotional, mental, and physical safety," Manly told Romper.

"When a partner's well-being is put ahead of family dynamics, a partner will generally feel much safer and secure," she said.

Additionally, an individual should also allow family members to voice their concerns.

"If family members register valid concerns, it may be worth considering their worries. If, however, family members are being highly critical and judgmental, it's appropriate to request that they act with kindness and respect," Manly explained.

It's not clear why the Redditor and her mother-in-law share such a tense relationship; however, the Redditor explained that it went from bad to worse after she declined one of her mother-in-law's meals.

"I was feeling sick [I'm a new mom [by the way]] and couldn't eat what she cooked for dinner and she seemed to take it personal [sic]," said the Redditor.

In response, she received a text from her mother-in-law, which allegedly read: "Oh yes I know and feel your passive aggressive vibe. You keep pretending to be sick so you won't have to eat what I cook? What? You think my cooking is disgusting? You think I'm unhigynec [sic]? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ACTUALLY LOOKED AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR?

"Apologies I forgot you're a new mom and can't be bothered to even get your hair brushed. You finally trapped our son and now want to use the baby as a pawn. I don't like the fact you're my grandchild's mother. I don't think I'll ever come to terms with it because you bore him. But I'll pretend. Pretend I don't know my son's been having chats with his ex every chance he gets. Be mean to his mommy. Me. And you'll see how far that gets you," the text continued.

Immediately upon receiving the text, the Redditor showed her husband. The message angered him, so he drove to his mother's home, where he "berated" his mother and "disowned" her.

The Redditor's mother-in-law allegedly fainted during the exchange, and the Redditor said she received several messages from her sisters-in-law, who blamed her for "jeopardizing" their mother's health.

"They accused me of causing this s**tshow and turning my husband on his own mother and disowning her like that," the Redditor claimed.

"She said I'm responsible for whatever happens next and have to fix the problem I created," she said.

In addition to receiving heat from her in-laws, the Redditor said that her husband is also avoiding her.

She expressed that she may have been wrong to show her husband the text, but commenters quickly jumped to her defense.

"NTA [not the a**hole], you had to show that message to your husband. That was a very disturbing text," said u/Foreign_Negotiation7.

"She caused this situation with her actions and her words, not you. Repeat this every time it comes up. Have your husband do the same. 'Mom caused this situation with her behavior and her words, not wife and not me. Stop blaming other people for the consequences of mom's s**tty behavior,'" added u/Obtuse-Angel.

Redditor u/Cat_Sicario_2601 commented: "NTA rule number one with toxic families let the related partner handle the own family. You did the right thing by showing him the text and not escalate [sic] the matter by yourself. And it was his decision how to react. Mommy dearest was so shocked that her son would chose [sic] to defend you she probably fainted out of shock."

Newsweek reached out to u/throwaway-text2 for comment.