I came across this story on Reddit, and it really hit close to home for anyone who’s ever dealt with a competitive or overbearing family member. Here’s how it goes.
The poster works in a challenging field, supporting people with disabilities who have behavioral issues. It’s a complex role that involves navigating an entire network of support systems. With a background in psychology and criminology, she’s well-equipped to handle it but her mother-in-law (MIL) has made it her personal mission to undermine her expertise.
MIL, who used to work as a teacher but left the job claiming PTSD, insists she could do the poster’s job better. Not just that she’s been telling anyone who’ll listen that she has more expertise, she’s smarter, and, oh, by the way, she thinks the job is so simple that she could “easily” handle it herself. She’s even gone so far as to compare their salaries, often making snide comments to tear the poster down.
When confronted by her daughter about why she competes so much with her daughter-in-law, MIL just shrugs it off, claiming she’s “just offering her knowledge.” Sure, MIL. Whatever you say.
Here’s where things get interesting. The poster’s partner recently dropped a juicy bit of news: MIL has actually taken a job in the same field. She’s doing the same kind of work and, surprise, surprise, is struggling. Meanwhile, the poster’s company is looking to promote her to a supervisory position. Karma, anyone?
Now, the poster knows her MIL all too well and can already predict how this will play out. At their next family gathering, MIL will absolutely bring up her new job. And she won’t admit to struggling, of course. Instead, she’ll either brag about how “amazing” she’s doing or blame her struggles on her employer, claiming they’re making the job harder than it needs to be.
The poster is bracing herself for the inevitable conversation and wondering how to handle it. Should she just let it slide? Should she say something cheeky? The Reddit comments did not disappoint.
“Tell her about her struggles and your promotion have fun with it, too!” Another offered a slightly more diplomatic approach: “Tell her you’re sure she’s doing her best, but not everyone is cut out for this type of work. Keep at it if she loves the job, and eventually she’ll get the hang of it. Then casually drop that same attitude has led you to a promotion. If she wants advice, offer to share what made you successful.” It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty, isn’t it?
The poster loved the idea of keeping it light but subtly reminding MIL that success in this field doesn’t come easy and maybe she’s not the expert she always claimed to be.
Sometimes life really has a way of humbling people who need it most. MIL spent so long insisting she could outdo her daughter-in-law at her own job, only to find herself floundering when she finally gave it a shot. Meanwhile, the poster is thriving, with her hard work paying off in the form of a well-deserved promotion.
The takeaway? Actions speak louder than words. You don’t have to argue or prove anything to people who don’t believe in you. Just do your thing, let your results speak for themselves, and watch as life does the talking for you.