A mom has asked social media users for advice after revealing that she kicked her mother-in-law out of her home after criticizing her son for wearing a dress.
Taking to Reddit's 'Am I The A**hole?' section - where somebody shares a story and other Redditors debate on who is in the wrong - the doting mom titled her issue: "AITA for kicking MIL out over comments on my son wearing a dress?"
Writing under the username 'lovemykidsthrow', she explains that her six-year-old son likes to wear dresses indoors sometimes. This is something that neither his mom nor his dad have an issue with, with the supportive mom explaining: "If he comes out as trans, gay, whatever my husband and I 100% support him and love him the way he is."
However, her son's choice to wear a dress suddenly became an issue when her mother-in-law started staying at the family's home for a few weeks.
"The second day she's here my son wears a dress. MIL makes a screwy face and asks my husband what he's doing out of our son's earshot. I didn't quite hear what my husband said but MIL kept a screwy face for the rest of the day but made no more comment," the mom writes.
The mom then explains that a couple of days later, her son once again decided to wear a dress. However, instead of speaking to the child's father, her mother-in-law instead asked the youngster "in a very judgy and mean tone": "Why don't you go put some jeans on? Why do you want to wear a dress?"
Continuing, the mom writes: "He had tears in his eyes and came over to me for a cuddle. He was sad and ashamed. I comforted him and told him 'nope you're fine to wear a dress please don't worry'."
Speaking to her mother-in-law away from her son, the mom explained: "I told her that I want my kids to love themselves and it's very important for me and her son to install self-confidence in them.
"And that I would prefer she stay with her daughter instead."
So, after a phone call, the mother-in-law was sent to stay with her daughter.
"MIL expressed how she couldn't believe we were being so drastic," the mom adds, "But it's our house and we take her attitude against our son very seriously. This is a judge-free house in that way."
After explaining that several other family members have now been in touch to share their disagreement with the mom, the Redditor says she can't help but have a "twinge of doubt" over the entire situation - and therefore she is seeking advice from other social media users.
And fortunately, Reddit was on her side.
One person commented: "Protecting your children from toxic, judgmental relatives is important. It DOES NOT MATTER that it's grandma. She is toxic and needed to have her eyes opened right there on the spot.
"The people telling you that you are wrong think that 'because family' is a good enough reason, but "because family" is the EXACT reason she cannot be in your home, around YOUR children. EXCELLENT parenting."
A second added: "Dresses are awesome and OP you’re an awesome momma for advocating for your child, keep it up!"
And a third wrote: "As someone who was assigned male at birth and recently learned about the joys of wearing a dress at age 27, I am jealous of your child.
"Not even knowing that that type of expression was an option at a young age really did a number on my sense of identity and self-esteem, so I can tell you that what you're doing can only help his mental health and self-esteem.
"You're modeling good behavior and standing up for what's right, and that's always the right decision.
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