Woman Backed For Causing 'Scene' After Sisters-In-Law Announced Pregnancies

Reddit users threw their support behind a woman who said she left her own birthday party after her two sisters-in-law announced their pregnancies.

In a post shared on the popular Reddit forum "Am I the A******," u/biology-eater, who is unable to have children, said her two sisters-in-law, "Emily" and "Diane," gifted her a shirt that read "Best Future Aunt X2," two positive pregnancy tests and a photo of the two of them with their stomachs touching. She noted that the two sisters-in-law knew that u/biology-eater could not have children.

Upon receiving the gifts, u/biology-eater said she had a panic attack and left the party, which resulted in some backlash.

"AITA for making a scene after my SILs announced their pregnancies at my birthday as a gift," she asked in the title of her post, which amassed more than 10,000 votes.

Expert Advice

Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW, told Newsweek that a person who is pregnant should be sensitive when they share their news with someone who cannot have children.

"Knowing you are pregnant doesn't mean they aren't happy about your pregnancy," she said. "It is also a reminder of their inability to conceive."

Waichler recommended that the pregnant person should share their news with a friend or family member who cannot have children privately in a sensitive manner.

"Ask them to let you know what you can do to help," she said. "Give them permission not to attend baby-focused activities and let them know you understand and will not take it personally."

For those who cannot have children, Waichler said they should let their pregnant friend or family member know they are genuinely happy for them but that they hope they understand it can be difficult to be around people who are pregnant at times.

"Together, maybe you can spend some private time celebrating their baby," she said.

Waichler said they can remind their friend or family member that while they want to be supportive, their primary focus is to protect their own mental health.

"Share as much as you feel comfortable sharing about the emotional, physical and medical challenges you have been battling," she said.

"AITA?"

In her post, u/biology-eater said that although she wanted a small party for her birthday, it quickly grew in size to more than 40 people as other friends and family members dropped by.

Despite the party including more people than what u/biology-eater intended, she said it went well. However, things went downhill when she began opening gifts.

Once she opened the gifts from her sisters-in-law, u/biology-eater asked if they were pregnant, to which they both confirmed they were. Emily then took the shirt and showed it to the rest of the guests.

"As I was starting to cry, I ran outside, my boyfriend following me," u/biology-eater said. "I had a panic attack."

When they returned to the party, they saw the other guests congratulating the couples on their pregnancies. u/biology-eater and her boyfriend spoke to his parents and they left without talking to the other guests.

That evening, u/biology-eater said she received some "nasty" text messages from her boyfriend's family who insinuated she ruined the pregnancy announcement.

She said she does not want her boyfriend's relationship with his family to sour as a result of what happened at the party and noted that his parents texted her to apologize.

Redditors React

Fellow Reddit users took to the comments section to voice their support for u/biology-eater.

"Why would they want to co-opt your birthday to make it about them? And then not be compassionate when you get emotional?" a Redditor asked. "I don't know if everyone in your bf's family are AHs but whoever sent you that text about ruining the announcement certainly is."

"This was needlessly cruel," wrote another Reddit user. "I can't begin to believe that they thought this was OK."

"They commandeered your birthday party and made your so-called birthday gift about them," one Redditor wrote. "This speaks to me of laziness; rather than set up a separate gathering with their people, they saw an opportunity to announce at a gathering that already existed. Yours."

Newsweek reached out to u/biology-eater for further comment. We could not verify the details of this case.

Other Reddit users have turned to the "Am I the A******" forum for advice and insight.

A man received support for refusing to pay college tuition for his biological son. One woman was backed for turning off her husband's alarm which often wakes her up.

Another post featured a worker who faced backlash for their "provocative" questions about a co-worker's family.