Bride Breaks Off Engagement After Future Mother-in-Law Kept ‘Pressuring’ Her to Try to Get Pregnant Right After the Wedding

A bride-to-be says she finally reached her breaking point after her future mother-in-law kept pushing her to get pregnant right after the wedding. When she brought her concerns to her fiancé and learned he agreed with his mom, she decided to call off the engagement.

The 25-year-old woman shared her story on Reddit, explaining that things with her future mother-in-law — whom she called “Rebecca” — first became tense when Rebecca “started getting heavily involved in the planning” of the wedding.

Although the groom and his father were paying for the celebration, Rebecca had strong opinions about nearly everything and closely monitored the spending, according to the original poster (OP).

“She told me to choose any décor I wanted and said she’d get it because she wanted me to have the ‘perfect’ wedding,” the OP wrote. “I picked out things that fit my taste because it’s my wedding. Later, she came to my house asking to see what I had chosen. Every time I showed her something she thought looked expensive, she would remind me that my [father-in-law] had a budget and we couldn’t go over it.”

Because she identifies as a “people pleaser,” the OP said she kept agreeing to downgrade her choices. “I’m a people pleaser, so I kept agreeing to swap things out for cheaper options,” she added.

Amid all the back and forth about wedding details, Rebecca shifted to a much more personal topic: the couple’s plans for children. During another visit, the conversation turned to their future and having kids — even though the OP had already been very clear about her preferred timing for starting a family.

“I’m a student and have been very clear that I don’t want to think about having kids yet until after I transfer universities, which is about a year after the wedding,” she explained. “Both she and my fiancé already knew this.”

However, when the OP tried to steer the discussion away, Rebecca grew “upset.”

“She tried to pressure me — showing me baby videos, talking about pregnancy, acting like I should already want kids. I told her it wasn’t her decision, it was mine and my fiancé’s,” the OP wrote.

Rebecca eventually left “angry,” and when the OP later told her fiancé what had happened, she was shocked to discover that he agreed with his mother’s stance.

“He said we’re ‘not young’ and should start trying as soon as we’re married,” she recalled. “I got really upset and told him if having kids immediately was so important, he should find someone else who would do that.”

The OP ended the engagement and “sent back everything he ever gave me, including the ring.” Still, she admitted she was second-guessing herself and wondered if she had “overreacted” by “walking away.”

Commenters on Reddit overwhelmingly reassured her that she made the right call.

One person told her she “dodged a bullet,” emphasizing that her ex-fiancé did not stand up for her.

“Your ex sided with his mother about things that have nothing to do with her and is apparently happy to be in a relationship with his mother. It is not normal to include your parents (either side) in your family planning, and you should run from people who think it is,” they wrote.

Another commenter said: “NTA [not the a——]. Run and run far away, don’t look back. Your ex didn’t have your back, your MIL is showing you early on what kind of MIL she will be your entire life if you stay — take notice!”

Someone else agreed, adding: “Fortunately, her impatience, hunger for control and stupidity gave you a crystal clear view of what was to come and how your future would look like. Good on you for leaving him/them.”