This story reflects the frustration and hurt that can arise when family members fail to show consideration during a challenging time.
The writer, a 9-months-pregnant woman dealing with a difficult pregnancy, including a diagnosis of gestational diabetes requiring strict dietary control, is hosting her in-laws for the holidays. Despite the demands of her condition and the exhaustion of pregnancy, she’s been expected to fully host their visit, preparing meals, organizing holiday feasts, and managing all the logistics without much or any help from her in-laws. Neither her mother-in-law nor father-in-law has offered to cook, clean, or help around the house, and they even leave her and her husband out when ordering takeout for themselves.
Adding to the stress, her brother-in-law, who has a history of difficult behavior, has been a constant source of complaints, insisting he’s “starving” while only eating a limited menu of burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and chicken nuggets. His food preferences have dictated much of the meal planning during their visit, further sidelining the writer’s needs.
As the in-laws’ visit draws to a close, they decide to treat everyone to dinner as a thank-you for hosting. But instead of asking what the heavily pregnant writer might want or, more importantly, what she can eat with her gestational diabetes, they announce they’ll be ordering pizza, primarily because that’s what the brother-in-law wants. The writer, already emotionally and physically drained, finds herself fighting back tears. She feels deeply hurt by their apparent lack of consideration and wonders if she’s overreacting due to pregnancy hormones.
The writer’s feelings are completely valid. It’s reasonable to expect her in-laws to prioritize her needs in this situation, especially as she’s pregnant, dealing with a challenging condition, and has spent the entire visit hosting without support. Their decision to choose a meal she can’t eat, without consulting her, comes across as thoughtless and dismissive of her struggles.
She’s not being overly hormonal or sensitive, she’s reacting to a clear lack of empathy and respect. Her frustration stems from their continued disregard for her needs, and her response reflects a perfectly reasonable desire to feel seen and valued during a difficult time.