My In-laws Called Me Paranoid Until My Sil Almost Let My Baby Fall Out Of A Second-story Window. Now They’re Threatening To Sue Me For Cutting Her Off. What Do I Do?
The Second Mother
Why did my SIL keep accidentally endangering my newborn? My sister-in-law Bridget couldn’t have children, and when I got pregnant, she lost her mind. She’d been trying for seven years, while I got pregnant three months after getting married to her brother.
She pretended to be supportive, but I could see the hatred in her eyes every time she looked at my belly.
“Some people get everything so easily,” she’d say to anyone who’d listen. “Must be nice to not even have to try.”
When my daughter Lily was born, Bridget immediately declared herself the most important aunt.
“I’m going to be her second mother,” she announced at the hospital. “Since I can’t have my own, I’ll pour all my love into this baby.”
Everyone thought it was sweet; I thought it was creepy. She started coming over every single day. She’d snatch Lily out of my arms the second she arrived.
“Mommy needs a break,” she’d say, even when I had just woken up from a full night’s sleep.
When I tried to take my baby back, she’d hold on tighter.
“Don’t be selfish. Lily needs to bond with her aunt too.”
The First Accidents
Then the accidents started. First, she gave Lily water when she was only 3 weeks old. I caught her with a bottle of water at Lily’s lips.
“Babies get thirsty too,” she said when I screamed.
When I explained that water could kill a newborn, she rolled her eyes.
“That’s just paranoid internet nonsense. Babies in my generation drank water and survived.”
Next, she put thick blankets and stuffed animals in Lily’s crib during her nap. I found my baby’s face pressed against a teddy bear, barely able to breathe. Bridget said she was just trying to make the crib cozy.
“You keep her in that cold empty box like she’s in prison.”
When I showed her the safe sleep guidelines, she said modern mothers were too anxious about everything. She’d leave Lily on the changing table and walk away to get things. She’d prop bottles in Lily’s mouth and leave her alone to feed. She’d put Lily in her car seat but not buckle the straps properly.
Every time I caught her, she’d say I was overreacting.
“I’ve babysat dozens of kids. I know what I’m doing.”
My husband Keith didn’t see the pattern.
“She’s trying to help. She’s just not up to date on current safety stuff. Be patient with her.”
His parents said the same thing.
“Bridget loves that baby. She’d never hurt her. You’re being a paranoid new mother.”
