The Good Life: Mother-in-Law Mayhem

Newsweek

3 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
MIL Mayhem: Our Top 5 Mother-in-Law Horror Stories
By Cameron Schoppa
Let's be honest—when you hear the words "mother-in-law," your brain probably short-circuits to a variety of opinions. Stereotypically, those opinions might not be positive. Sure, not all MILs are monsters of course... but some truly could star in a horror flick.
From announcing births before the parents do, to ending weddings over a white wedding dress, these mothers-in-law aren't just crossing boundaries—they're bulldozing them. Buckle up as we dive into five of the most unhinged, jaw-dropping, "did she really do that?" MIL moments the we've ever seen.
Stock Image
Stock Image
Tero Vesalainen/iStock/Getty Images Plus
A woman faced serious backlash after she jumped the gun and announced the birth of her grandchild on Facebook—before the baby's own parents had the chance.
The story was shared by a frustrated new mom who explained that after a traumatic pregnancy and birth—so difficult she had kept it quiet for fear of losing the baby—she and her partner finally felt ready to share the news. But when she logged onto Facebook to make the announcement, she was stunned to find her mother-in-law had already beaten her to it. She had posted a photo of the baby—one the mom hadn't even seen yet—calling the newborn "her grandbaby" and saying the birth had "just happened."
The post spread quickly, and so did the outrage.
This mom decided to ban her mother-in-law from visiting after she refused to use her grandson's real name, and this is no ordinary nickname. The mother explained that she and her husband had lovingly chosen the name Elijah for their baby boy.
But from the moment the mother-in-law met him at the hospital, she ignored that entirely.
"She looked at him and said, 'Oh little David, you're so perfect,'" the mom wrote. "I thought I misheard her, so I ignored it." But it wasn't a one-time slip. Despite repeated corrections, the grandmother kept calling the baby "David"—a name the couple hadn't even considered. The situation left many divided over whether cutting off visits was too harsh—or completely reasonable.
What do you think?
A stock image of an old woman holding a toy.
A stock image of an old woman holding a toy.
lucigerma/iStock / Getty Images Plus
A pregnant woman received praise after standing up to her overbearing mother-in-law—who not only referred to the unborn baby as "hers," but even threw herself a baby shower to celebrate. She shared how her husband's mom had been calling the baby "her baby" for months, leaving the expectant parents both confused and uncomfortable. At first, she tried to brush it off.
But things came to a head when her mother-in-law organized a baby shower—not for her, but for herself. "I asked if I could invite my friends," she wrote. "She said no, this was for her friends. If my friends wanted to throw me a shower, they could." To make matters worse, the mother-in-law ignored the gift registry and instead picked items she personally wanted for the baby.
The mom-to-be said she "rolled with it" at first—but when it came time to open gifts, she was stunned by what she saw.
A bride's decision to wear a white wedding dress instead of following her in-laws' tradition of blush-colored gowns led to a complete breakdown in her marriage. She had just gotten married when everything unraveled over her choice of dress. Her husband's family has a long-standing tradition of brides wearing blush-colored gowns. "They told me about this before," she wrote, "and I respectfully said I would wear whatever color dress felt perfect for me." She ended up choosing a classic white dress—something that didn't sit well with her in-laws. Her mother-in-law was reportedly "seething" at the sight of it, and her new husband was "disappointed." Feeling unsupported and blindsided by the reaction, the bride planned to leave the marriage and file for an annulment.
A stock image of a woman opening a door.
A stock image of a woman opening a door.
Oppdowngalon/iStock / Getty Images Plus
And finally, a baffled daughter-in-law shared that her mother-in-law took it upon herself to write directly on their back door—with a green pen. She posted a photo of the handwritten message: "Lock The Doors" with an arrow pointing to the handle. According to her, both locks on the door had been secured the entire time—something she emphasized. "She didn't even try to open the door," she wrote. "She just assumed it was unlocked because the bottom one looks like it isn't." She added that her mother-in-law, who's over 60, was visiting when she left the unsolicited note.
The kicker? The door had been locked during the entire visit—and still was.
Tap here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty
Researchers at the University of Florida are moving closer to developing what they have described as a "universal" cancer vaccine.
Dr. Elias Sayour, co-author of the study, director of the Pediatric Cancer Immunotherapy Initiative, and principal investigator at the RNA Engineering Laboratory at the University of Florida, believes the vaccine would apply to all types of cancer, because the treatment would result in the immune system being able to "recognize and reject all forms of cancer."
"In active cancers, the immune system has been fooled or lies dormant," he told Newsweek. "This approach can wake it up, restoring it in the fight against cancer."
Read more from Newsweek's Jasmine Laws.
In other news...
U.S. birth rates reach new low: The United States' total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2024, dipping below 1.6 children per woman, according to new federal data released Thursday by the CDC. This marks a significant demographic milestone for a country that once stood apart among developed nations for maintaining a replacement-level birth rate of around 2.1 children per woman. Here's the latest .
The United States' total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2024, dipping below 1.6 children per woman, according to new federal data released Thursday by the CDC. This marks a significant demographic milestone for a country that once stood apart among developed nations for maintaining a replacement-level birth rate of around 2.1 children per woman. . Men and dating: You know what they say... "shoot your shot." Apparently, some men are shooting really high. Researchers found that men tend to express interest in women who were "more desirable" than themselves on dating apps, and it's not working out so well. Read more.
This is a preview of The Good Life—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.