I read this story on Reddit about a woman dealing with her mother-in-law’s unusual and overwhelming obsession not with children, but with their dogs. The mother-in-law’s behavior borders on obsessive, leaving the woman questioning how she could possibly handle the situation if they decided to have kids in the future.
The MIL insists on coming over several times a week just to see the dogs, disregarding any boundaries the couple sets. Despite being told not to, she spoils the dogs endlessly and texts constantly for updates about their every move, whether they’ve eaten, slept well, or what they’re doing. She even shares pictures of the dogs with strangers and refers to them as her “babies” or “grand puppies,” a term that the woman admits gives her “the ick.”
Her obsession goes deeper, with comments like hoping she dies before the dogs because she “couldn’t handle their deaths.” At family gatherings, she greets the dogs before acknowledging her own son and daughter-in-law, and the conversation almost exclusively revolves around the dogs. It’s gotten to the point where even family members have commented on how weird and uncomfortable her behavior is.
What’s truly concerning for the couple is the thought of having children. The woman confesses that her MIL’s complete disregard for rules and boundaries, along with her nosy, overbearing nature, makes her question how much worse things would get with real human grandchildren. She describes her MIL as well-meaning but believes she’s missing a screw or two, and she admits it’s becoming unbearable.
“Wow… I would not be able to entertain the idea of human children if this was how my MIL behaved over dogs… You are correct. She is bonkers.” To which the woman replied, “Right? It’s If it’s this bad with dogs, I actually can’t fathom how bad it would be with real human children.”