Do you ever feel like your relatives might be a little over-the-top? Let me tell you about mine, and you’ll quickly realize you’re not alone. I had to deal with my sister-in-law, Candice, and her outrageous demands that seemed to know no boundaries.
My husband, Harry, and I had been happily married for seven years, and together for almost fifteen. We had two wonderful children, Maya and Luke, and life was going great—until my extended family entered the picture.
From the moment I met my mother-in-law, Charlotte, and my sister-in-law, Candice, I felt an odd tension. At first, I tried to brush it off, assuming it was just nerves or me overthinking things. Little did I know, those initial feelings were a preview of the chaos they would bring into my life.
Before our wedding, Candice threw a complete tantrum when I chose someone else as my maid of honor. Worse yet, she had the audacity to complain that my wedding dress was “prettier” than hers! As if the whole day was supposed to revolve around her. Thankfully, Harry’s grandmother, Grace, who was the only kind soul in that family (aside from my husband), stepped in to save the day. However, the tension with Candice never quite went away.
Things took an unexpected turn before Candice’s thirtieth birthday, and I realized just how far she was willing to go for her own selfish desires.
Candice, who rarely visited us and always kept her distance from our children, surprised me one afternoon when she spent hours playing with Maya. I thought something was off but couldn’t quite put my finger on it—until dinner time.
“I have an announcement!” Candice suddenly declared during dinner, her voice ringing through the room. “I’m going to be a mom!”
Harry choked on his food. I froze mid-bite, unsure if I had heard her correctly.
“What?” I asked, confused.
Harry, wiping his mouth, raised his eyebrows. “Who… is the father? You’re not even dating anyone!”
Candice simply waved him off. “That’s actually why I’m here today.” She sat up straighter in her chair, a smug look on her face. “The parents of my child will be you two.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “What?!”
She went on, explaining that she was nearing thirty and still single, and for her birthday, she wanted the “perfect gift”—a baby. Not just any baby, mind you, but our baby.
“You want us to have a baby, and then just… give it to you?” I stammered.
Candice nodded as if it were the most normal request in the world. “Yes, give it to me for my birthday. What’s the big deal?”
I was livid. “I’m not having another baby just to hand it over to you, Candice! You can’t just ask someone for a child as though it’s an object!”
She scoffed at me, accusing me of being “selfish” and “trying to keep all the kids to myself.” The conversation escalated quickly, with Harry also getting frustrated and telling her to leave. After a heated argument, Candice stormed out, slamming the door behind her, leaving me both shocked and angry.
I thought that would be the last of it, but of course, it wasn’t.
A few weeks later, Candice showed up at our house, this time with our mother-in-law, Charlotte, in tow. To my surprise, Candice was holding shopping bags full of baby clothes. My first instinct was that she had brought gifts for Maya and Luke. But the smug look on her face told me otherwise.
Charlotte marched into our house without waiting for an invitation, plopping down on our couch. She wasted no time getting to the point. “Candice told me that you agreed to give her a baby.”
I was floored. “No, we told her that we’re not going to do that!”
Charlotte responded with a dismissive wave. “Why not? Stephanie, as a woman, you should understand that Candice is nearing thirty. It’s hard to have kids at that age.”
I couldn’t hold back my frustration any longer. “I’m not giving my child to your daughter. She’s not ready to be a mother, and this whole idea is insane!”
But Candice wasn’t done yet. “It’s not like that. I’ve already bought everything. Clothes, toys, everything!” She pulled out baby clothes from the shopping bags, as if buying stuff made her ready to be a mother.
“Do you understand that babies cry, scream, and make messes?” Harry responded, his patience wearing thin. “You can’t just treat a baby like a doll to dress up. It’s hard work.”
Candice brushed it off, saying, “I’ve seen Maya, and she’s always so quiet. I won’t have any issues.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’ve never spent enough time with her to understand what babies are like! Maya cries just like any other baby!”
The argument escalated as Candice became more insistent and naive about what parenting really meant. At one point, she casually said, “I’ll just bring my daughter to you whenever she cries. What’s the problem with that?”
That was the final straw. Harry, exhausted and frustrated, buried his face in his hands. “This is impossible, Candice. You’re not ready to be a mother. Asking us to have a child for you is beyond ridiculous.”
But the most shocking part came when I went searching for Charlotte, who had quietly slipped away. I found her in our bedroom, suspiciously tampering with our condoms—an action that left me speechless.
It was then that I realized just how far Candice and Charlotte were willing to go to get their way. Their entitlement had no bounds, and they had crossed a line I never thought possible.
As crazy as this all sounded, I was ready to make sure they learned a lesson they would never forget. Candice had finally met her match.
Moral of the Story:
This story serves as a reminder of the importance of setting boundaries, even with family. While it’s essential to be kind and understanding, it’s also crucial to recognize when people are crossing the line and taking advantage of your kindness. Children are not commodities, and family should never treat them as such.
Sophia Reynolds is a dedicated journalist and a key contributor to Storyoftheday24.com. With a passion for uncovering compelling stories, Sophia Reynolds delivers insightful, well-researched news across various categories. Known for breaking down complex topics into engaging and accessible content, Sophia Reynolds has built a reputation for accuracy and reliability. With years of experience in the media industry, Sophia Reynolds remains committed to providing readers with timely and trustworthy news, making them a respected voice in modern journalism.
