As a vegetarian gal myself, I hate being invited to dinner only for the hosts to act like me being vegetarian is the biggest inconvenience of their lives. I rather not come at all than have to sit through an entire dinner being lectured about my life choices, or worse, have to listen to countless jokes like – 'C'mon, just eat this one thing, the cow won't notice' or 'What more is there to live for other than the taste of animals?' That is why I set a rule with anyone I ever eat with–If you don'…

Your primary focus should always be your family. Having said that, who do you regard as your close family members? An account of a devastated mother-in-law is given below. The original poster (OP) had consistently attempted to establish a relationship with her daughter-in-law, but she had continuously encountered rejection. The difficulties deteriorated once she had children, and the daughter-in-law, prioritized her own mother while limiting her engagement with the grandchildren. OP grew distan…

Whenever one holds an event of some sort, they might feel a strong need for everyone who attends to focus all their attention on the celebrator and no one else. During a wedding, for example, the bride usually hates when someone tries to steal her focus, and the same might apply to birthdays, baby showers, and funerals (kidding with the last one, I hope…). That is why I understand why the wife in this Reddit story was upset, and I can relate to her initial reaction. During her baby shower, OP's…

Knowing more than just one language is such an important tool in life, you can open yourself up to so many new experiences if you let yourself learn tools like another language. Travel, people, conversation, and even work look different when you acquire those tools. Not to mention, if you do not tell people about your skill, you can have some clever opportunities to reveal that fact in a way that would truly make an impact. Take the woman in this Reddit story for example, who decided to reveal…

Taking up the role of parenthood takes work. All of a sudden, this independent person whose sole duty was to look after himself is required to love and care for a small creature that is unable to look after itself. The story below is an account of a frustrated son. The original poster (OP) and his spouse had recently welcomed a beautiful baby boy. The couple experimented with names before the baby was born, discussing whether to choose traditional names, as his family would anticipate, or wheth…

'She claimed she was doing me a favor'

Keeping a friendly relationship with your mother-in-law is important for you and your partner. You don't have to be best friends with your mother-in-law, but you do need to get along and respect each other. The story below is an account of a frustrated daughter-in-law. The original poster (OP) had been married for a considerable amount of time. Overall, the couple is happy and fulfilled in their marriage. Except for the occasional argument, they are on the same page most of the time. But the mo…

A baby's birth is a momentous occasion. An occasion to be honored and treasured. But shouldn't the mother also get some kind of respect or credit for all the hard work she put in before the baby arrived? The story of a frustrated daughter-in-law is presented below. The original poster (OP) had recently welcomed her first child into the world. Everyone is in awe of the blushing baby, and deservedly so. However, rather than indulging OP and making her feel like the superwoman that she is, the mot…

Your family should come first at all times. Having said that, are there boundaries that even your nearest and dearest should not cross? The story below is an account of a frustrated mother. For the first time ever, the original poster (OP) is about to become a grandmother. Her son got married to Sierra, and the two of them are expecting their first child together. All the same, Sierra asked OP to make the trip to her home state in order to help her in getting ready for the baby's arrival. OP in…

Above all, family comes first. That being said, how would you react, though, if you thought your family was taking advantage of your kindness? Would you be willing to offend them by setting firm boundaries, or would you prefer to remain silent in an effort to maintain harmony? The mother-in-law who is frustrated is described in the story below. Since they are unable to afford a house of their own, the original poster (OP) is currently providing housing for her son and his expectant fiancé. They…

We all have (or had) parents, that is simply a fact. We all also have extremely different relationships with our parents, those of which affect other relationships we have in our lives, whether romantic or otherwise. Even for people who have a good and strong relationship with their parents, it can create quite a tense situation when another loved one joins the equation. The husband in this Reddit story has a strong relationship with his mother, which unfortunately badly affects his relationshi…

Family should always come first. Even so, how would you react if your in-laws purchased the house next door and wanted to relocate ‘within walking distance’ of you? Would the thought of your mother-in-law's face scare you every morning, or would you be grateful for the extra help? The daughter-in-law who is frustrated is described in the story below. The original poster (OP) and her partner recently bought their first home together. At first, everything appeared to be going rather well for OP,…

As a parent, you spend most of your time with your children. Whether one works in the public sector or manages their own private space, the house, being a parent is one of the greatest challenges someone can face. It's a constant struggle with a healthy mix of positive and negative experiences that never ceases to astound me. But how would you react if your sister-in-law asserted that you don't need or deserve a vacation from the kids since you are a stay-at-home mother? This is the story of a…

Weddings are a joyous event. Marriage represents the union of two families on a larger scale, as well as the union of two persons on a micro level. If your future mother-in-law refused to accept the fact that you were now a formal member of the family, how would you respond? Would you try to make things right, or would you just accept things as they are and give up while you're ahead? The story that follows tells the tale of a perplexed mother-in-law. The original poster (OP) expresses doubts a…

Birthdays and weddings are supposed to be joyful occasions to celebrate. An appreciation of life and all that it has to offer, a celebration of our past successes and our goals for the future. However, how would you respond if your loved ones decided to compare the two events, painting one as extravagant and the other as inexpensive? Would you take what was said at face value and run with it, or would you end the conversation before it even got started? The story below is an account of a confus…

It matters who you are with more than what you wear or where you go. Or at any rate, that's what people say. Having said that, it's a very different story on your wedding day, which is supposed to be your special day. The story below is an account of a frustrated wife. The Original Poster (OP), who recently got married, just received her wedding photos. OP was initially thrilled about reliving the lovely day she enjoyed so much, however she quickly remembered how angry she had grown with her MI…