Mother-in-Law Says She’s ‘Done’ with Kids’ Birthday Parties, but Mom Is ‘Upset’ She Won’t Come

A woman says her mother-in-law has decided she’s “done with parties,” even though her grandchildren will have plenty more birthdays to celebrate.

In a Reddit post titled, “Mother in law is done with parties,” the anonymous woman writes, “My mother in law told me last year she is no longer going to either of my kids’ birthday parties.”

“She said she doesn’t like going and has never enjoyed going,” she adds. “I have a small family party at my grandparents’ every year. My parents don’t usually go either, so it has hurt my feelings now that both sets of my kids’ grandparents won’t be going.”

Instead of attending the party, the woman’s mother-in-law plans to “take them out to eat on a separate day.”

The woman wants to know if she’s wrong for feeling upset.

“I have tried inviting extended in-laws in the past, but they never came, so I stopped inviting them,” she writes. “My oldest is 12, so it’s not like she doesn’t know anyone. My family is very kind. The parties are not long—maybe 2 hours tops—as I try to move them along because kids’ birthday parties can drag on.”

While many Reddit users sympathize with the poster, some say the mother-in-law is at least trying in her own way.

One commenter writes: “It’s normal to feel hurt—you want your kids’ grandparents around for birthdays. But at least your mother-in-law is still making an effort by taking them out. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.”

Another commenter adds: “Kid parties aren’t usually family parties. Of course it’s not fun for her to sit on the sidelines while your kids play with friends. She clearly still wants to spend time with the kids to celebrate their birthdays.”