I read this story on Reddit about a new mom who’s frustrated with her mother-in-law’s constant texts and a nickname she hates. Every day, the MIL messages her asking, “How is my Gordito?” referring to her 5-month-old son. While the nickname “Gordito” (which means “chubby” or “plump” in Spanish) isn’t inherently an insult in some Spanish cultures, the mom absolutely despises it and worries about its implications as her son grows up.
What makes it worse is the MIL’s behavior. She’s overbearing, comes to their house acting entitled, and even undermines them financially. For instance, she once let a bill in her son’s name go unpaid, sending him to collections. Another time, she refused to help pay for repairs after borrowing his car and damaging it. On top of that, she had the audacity to call the mom a bad parent just three weeks postpartum.
The mom is torn between ignoring the daily texts or telling her MIL outright to stop using the nickname. She’s worried about being rude but also feels disrespected and fed up, especially since the MIL always seems to play the victim when confronted.
Commenters might suggest that she’s well within her rights to set boundaries, both with the nickname and the daily check-ins. Others might note that the nickname is just one piece of a larger issue the MIL’s lack of respect. Ultimately, it’s about the mom taking control of the situation for her own peace of mind.