Woman says she gave husband an ultimatum after finding out what his mom has been secretly showing her stepdaughter: ‘What’s the big deal?’

A stepmother who has raised her six-year-old stepdaughter since the girl was three says her marriage is now on the line. She reportedly told her husband his mother must leave their home after discovering the mother-in-law was secretly showing the child Facebook photos and videos of her biological mother, according to a Reddit post by u/french_toastieee in r/AmIOverreacting.

The woman said the situation reached a breaking point when the girl started acting out at school and at home whenever these interactions happen. She said the behavior appears tied to the child receiving multiple write-ups at school. However, the mother-in-law reportedly continues to show her the pictures to remind her of her biological mother.

The stepmother wrote that the girl’s biological mother abandoned her at age two and rarely makes contact. When confronted about the photos, the mother-in-law allegedly brushed off the concerns by asking, “what’s the big deal, that’s her mom,” according to the post.

He allegedly promised his mom would move out, and she never did

The couple has been together for three years, and the husband allegedly promised his mother would move out shortly after they began living together. She is reportedly still living in their home. The dispute closely resembles another viral case of a mother-in-law peeking through windows after being told to stay away.

The husband is 29, and his wife is 30. The mother-in-law reportedly lost custody of her own four children when they were young, and she only rekindled a relationship with her son when he was 25, the stepmother claimed.

An aunt and uncle are now raising her youngest child, as the mother-in-law allegedly lost custody over a drug issue. Her situation may not be unusual, as parental substance use is reportedly the most common reason relatives step in to raise children, according to a Generations United report.   

The stepmother said her mother-in-law recently got hold of that daughter’s phone number. She has reportedly been telling the girl that the aunt and uncle kept them apart, rather than admitting she lost custody.

According to his wife, the husband is refusing to address the situation. He reportedly claims she is overreacting, as he finally has his mother in his life, and that is how she is. In response, the woman told him that if his mother does not leave their home, she will leave the marriage.

The post drew reactions similar to other viral in-law disputes. Some users suggested the husband may always put his mother first, and that the wife likely cannot trust him as he did not keep his word. Others said they would pack their bags in a heartbeat, arguing the mother-in-law may never leave.

The stepmother appears firm that she can no longer live with someone she says causes instability for their daughter. She claimed the grandmother continues to undermine her role as a parent. However, her husband reportedly remains unwilling to set boundaries.