“My sister-in-law announced she was pregnant at my child’s funeral”
A woman has asked for advice on how to navigate her relationship with her sister-in-law, after the woman overheard an inappropriate conversation at her child’s funeral.
The grieving mother, a 28-year-old named Melissa, took to Reddit to share the heartbreaking story of how her toddler passed away after a battle with cancer.
Melissa described the time as the “hardest in my life”, explaining how she felt she lost “a part of herself” after the funeral.
While Melissa expected her toddlers’ memorial service to be difficult, she never predicted a family member would make it even harder.
The mother said that when she heard her sister-in-law telling people about her pregnancy, she thought the move was just cruel.
“She didn't make a big announcement but more than ten people at the service 'heard' and it's what everyone was talking about. To understate it, I was livid,” Melissa wrote on Reddit.
Melissa’s post then asked social media users for advice, as she was unsure how much of a relationship she wanted to have with her sister-in-law after the stunt.
The 28-year-old shared that she had fallen pregnant herself, and was facing pressure to have a party in celebration, but she didn’t want her whole family in attendance.
“I've been working on who I want to invite, and I really don't want my SIL there,” she said.
“Besides what she did, she's a vindictive and mean person and I cannot stand her.”
“I mentioned it to my husband and he says he couldn't care less whether she's there or not. But for the sake of saving face, I want opinions before I do this.”
She asked the online forum if she would be “an a**hole” for not inviting her, addin that she would still be inviting her husband's other sister and husband's brother's wife.
“The original SIL will be the only one not invited,” she clarified.
The post was flooded with comments as many backed up Melissa, slamming the sister-in-law for her selfish behaviour.
“I wouldn't want someone like that around me. Announcing a pregnancy at a child's funeral is insane,” one said.
“Cut her off and ignore everyone close to her. You are right to have nothing to do with her. She's totally classless.”
However, others encouraged her to have an adult conversation with her sister-in-law in an attempt to mend their relationship.
“Please let it go,” one person began. “This happened on a terrible day during a bad time for you. It's possible that could be clouding how you're looking at this, she may not have been malicious at all.”
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