Would this offend you?

When I was days away from giving birth, my husband told me- I can’t remember how the topic came up- that his parents had once offered to adopt our baby if I didn’t want her.

I remember scoffing in disbelief and being offended, but dismissed it at the time as something very ill judged (this is when my relationship with them was fine).

For context, they are exceptionally overprotective of their son- who did not want our baby at all.

But now, a year on, having experienced a thousand moments of their entitlement of our baby it has been bothering me more and more. My husband gets angry at me every time I bring it up, claiming they were just being kind but it really offended me.

We live with them and they’ve intruded into every single thing they can. Broken every boundary and my FIL completely ignores my maternal autonomy in every way. And has become increasingly antagonistic as I try and get him to back off and respect my rules with my baby. He has gotten to the point where he snatches things out of my hands to give her instead- and lying to everybody else about having done that. All I get are comments about ‘how much he loves her’, ‘how wonderful it is that he gets to experience this’ after working abroad when his son was a baby. How he always wanted a girl. It makes me furious.

So it just keeps creeping back in. The adoption offer. When they knew I very very much wanted my baby, that I was very prepared for her and a capable person.

Would any of you be bothered by that? Or should I listen to my husband that it was a just in case, nice offer?

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Move out, find a way, you need space. When that baby gets older they're going to try and turn her against you

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That is an incredibly bizarre thing of them to say, I can't believe that kindness was intended there. It's one thing to offer to take her in if something were to happen to you, but if someone had insinuated for a second at any point that I didn't want my baby I would've kicked offffffff.

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Hope you're okay!

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that's insane! I would understand if you were unsure about the baby too but when you want your baby that's such an odd thing to say. i really don't understand grandparents obsessions over their grandkids, hopefully it'll be something that passes over (not that you should have to grin and bear it). if I were you i would definitely try what I could to move out if that would be possible, even if you do have to go through the council. i don't understand your husband being mad at you over it, he should be mad at them with you if he was any sort of partner 🙄 i do agree with jai that they'll probably try and turn the baby against you, especially since you live with them, they'll probably try and use that against you too. I hope all gets better for you soon though, I would definitely struggle in that situation! xx

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Just get your baby & husband and move out
I had a similar situation with my in laws while we were living together
I took my family (husband & child) and moved out as soon as we could.. they changed 180 degrees after
From being against me and causing problems to be nice and try to keep me closer

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I heard an "offer" was made to send my child to the grandparents for the first 5 years to "help with the childcare costs".

Same grandparents that ditched my partner as an 8 year old to live on his own so he didn't have to commute to school. No. Not school supported accommodation. They bought a flat and left him there on his own.
And now they make such a "generous" offer. Over my dead body.

So I do feel for you girl. The adoption offer should never be brought up when they knew you wanted your child.
They probably offered it since your partner wasn't eager to be the full time dad around. Has he came around? If he did try to have a calm conversation on how it all makes you feel. Hopefully he will take your side and will have a conversation with his parents to back off a little.
Good luck!

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RUN. From someone who had an in-law make a similar comment (prior to my pregnancy) move out ASAPPP and hold your boundaries with them FIRMLY no matter how many arguments it causes. I saw this particular in-law GRAB a relatives toddler and RUN away with them at a theme park without permission and became extremely obsessive over their child. The disrespecting boundaries got worse and worse as years went on until they went no contact

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I’ve never heard of this. I would be very cautious and try my level best to move out as soon as possible. Even if it’s to the council or whatever but no dependence on them whatsoever

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Run for the hills, literally leave and if your husband doesn’t leave with you, leave him and keep your baby safe!

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