I read this story on Reddit about a couple who has been no contact (NC) with the husband’s family for nearly two years. The woman shared her frustration and heartbreak over how deeply her husband has been hurt by his own mother’s actions.
The fallout started when the woman received numerous screenshots of her mother-in-law (MIL) talking terribly about her, her family, and even her husband’s extended family. These messages weren’t just critical they were full of lies and malice. When her husband confronted his mother about the betrayal, she never apologized or took responsibility for her actions. Instead, she was enabled by her own parents, with whom she still lives.
This estrangement didn’t end with just his mother. The husband’s father and brother also “took her side,” despite the husband never asking them to pick one. To add insult to injury, the brother is 24, has never held a job, and still lives at the grandparents’ house, making his moral stance feel especially hollow.
The couple has kept their distance, but the emotional toll on the husband is immense. The holidays are especially painful. Despite being surrounded by love and support from his extended family and his wife’s family, he confesses that he struggles to understand how his parents could betray him so deeply. On top of it all, he’s dealing with infertility issues as the couple tries for a baby another source of devastation that compounds his emotional pain.
The husband is in therapy, but the woman admits she feels consumed by anger toward his mother for all the suffering she’s caused. She wishes she could take the pain away but acknowledges the weight of everything her husband is carrying.
“This is why my DH won’t confront his mother. He says she’ll lie and deny any responsibility, and start crying. Fine with me. He can continue to see her and listen to her talk about herself as long as he accepts that I won’t.” To which the woman replied, “Good for you for setting boundaries. Is his quality of life with her in it worth not confronting her? I feel like there’s usually a breaking point.”
The post serves as a reminder of how family estrangement can leave scars that linger, especially when paired with other life challenges. It also highlights the resilience of those who set boundaries to protect their peace and their loved ones.