First-Time Mom Refuses to Let Husband’s Family Stay for Christmas 1 Month After Baby Is Born

A new mom took to Reddit to open up about her struggle to set boundaries for the holidays, explaining that she doesn’t want her in-laws or her mother visiting this Christmas — especially with a newborn expected just weeks before the festive season.

She shared that she and her husband had agreed not to host anyone this year, but her spouse has recently begun to change his mind.

“For context, our folks will usually alternate holidays as we only have one guest bedroom,” she wrote, describing how they’ve managed family visits in the past. But this year, things feel different. “As a [first-time mom], the idea of having three extra people with us — even if they intend to be helpful — feels overwhelming on top of settling our newborn into a routine.”

She recalled that the last time they hosted, it was chaotic. “The one time we hosted everyone for Thanksgiving, everyone stayed at least four days, which meant we were not only feeding everyone for the big holiday but also for several days leading up to it,” she said.

The space issue made things even more difficult: “There wasn’t enough room in the fridge to store food and make-ahead dishes to reduce the load on the holiday.”

Her husband, however, didn’t share the same concerns. “My partner thinks I need to keep an open mind and has made it clear he is not telling his folks they can’t come this year,” she wrote.

“I know a few years ago his parents opted to spend Christmas at home despite being invited and vowed to never do that again,” she added.

Still, she felt the expectation to host was unfair. “I don’t think this is a fair or reasonable expectation, especially when we just had a baby and the winter holidays are a peak time for illness and germs,” she explained.

She also clarified that her decision applies to everyone equally. “I am saying my mother can’t be here either, so I feel like I am being very fair and reasonable in my request.”

“As it is, we already agreed to let them meet the baby once they’re born,” she continued. “[I’m] simply asking to not have a house full of folks from out of town over the holidays when I suspect we’ll still be settling in and trying to find our footing.”

Her post quickly resonated with many Reddit users who felt her perspective was entirely justified.

“The husband is an idiot,” one commenter wrote. “He has no idea how stressful it is being a first-time parent when you get home from the hospital. OP needs to firmly say that fine, if he wants everyone there, he can do all the cooking, cleaning, and hosting. Then she can sit back and watch the chaos.”

Another agreed and emphasized that her partner needed to respect her boundaries. “Your partner needs to step up and respect your wishes in this situation,” the commenter said, echoing the suggestion that he should handle all hosting responsibilities if he insists on having guests.