I (32F) am the mom of two young boys, ages 6 and 4. My mom has always been opinionated, but since I became a parent, her critiques have been nonstop. She has something to say about everything—what I feed my kids, how I discipline them, even the clothes I choose for them.
For some context: I’m financially stable and can provide a comfortable life for my boys. My parenting philosophy, however, is very different from how I was raised. I don’t believe in harsh punishments; instead, I focus on gentle parenting and understanding their needs. My mom, on the other hand, thinks I’m “too soft” and constantly accuses me of “spoiling” my children. She’s even gone as far as to say I’m raising “entitled brats.”
The tipping point came last weekend during a family dinner at my house. My 4-year-old had a tantrum because he didn’t want to eat what I’d made. Instead of escalating the situation, I calmly de-escalated it and offered him an alternative meal, which worked. But my mom wasn’t having it. She loudly criticized me in front of everyone, calling me a “failure as a mother” and claiming I was letting my kids “walk all over me.”
I’d had enough. I told her, in no uncertain terms, that if she couldn’t respect my parenting choices, I wouldn’t tolerate her constant criticism. The room went silent, and she stormed out shortly after. Now my family is divided. Some think I should’ve let it go to avoid conflict, while others agree that I was right to stand up for myself.
Since then, my mom has been telling everyone that I embarrassed her and made her feel unwelcome in my home. I feel conflicted because I don’t want my boys to miss out on a relationship with their grandmother, but at the same time, her behavior was unacceptable.
So, AITAH?
