It hurts that someone who has disrespected me has access to my child

Photo byAditya RomansaonUnsplash

As a new mom at 26 years old, I’ve been struggling to navigate the difficulties that come with postpartum life, particularly when it comes to my boyfriend’s mother. While I was pregnant, I had to stop taking some of my medications, which made my mental health take a hit. Unfortunately, my boyfriend's mother's behavior didn't help either. She became increasingly overbearing and rude towards me. I didn't want to make things worse, so I distanced myself from her, but it seems like this decision has backfired.

I've talked to my boyfriend about his mother's behavior, but he doesn't seem to notice it. When we first met, he warned me that his mom was very controlling, but I didn't understand what he meant as she was nice to me at first. However, I eventually realized that it was just a façade and that she was extremely insincere.

We see his parents about once a week, and I dread every visit. His dad is generally fine, but his mom is always getting on my nerves. During one visit, my baby was fussy, and she kept sulking about not being allowed to hold her. The next time she visited, she called my baby "her girl" and "her baby," which made me incredibly angry. She also made passive-aggressive comments about my formula feeding, which my baby needs since I don't produce enough milk.

To make matters worse, she's already booked a table at a restaurant for Father's Day, which is six weeks away. I wanted to plan something special for my boyfriend's first Father's Day, but she didn't even tell me she was going to book it. She seems to want to control everything and only wants to see my baby, not me.

It's also frustrating that she's cut her work hours and expects to be looking after my child on her days off, which makes me feel suffocated since I'm already a stay-at-home mom. It's just disappointing that someone who has disrespected me and been rude to me has access to my child.