Some people just have a talent for making bad situations worse. You could be clinging to life on a hospital bed, and they’d still find a way to turn it into their personal social hour. And if that person happens to be your mother-in-law? Well, congratulations, you’ve just unlocked nightmare mode.

Because some mothers-in-law have an almost magical ability to ignore boundaries. And when you’re 35 weeks pregnant, injured, and stuck in a hospital bed, apparently a boundary-stomping mother-in-law can smell your weakness from a mile away. Just like it happened to our Redditor.

More info: Reddit

Hospital stays are stressful enough, but throw in a pushy mother-in-law, and suddenly your broken foot is less painful than the drama

Image credits: pixel-shot.com / Freepik (not the actual photo)

One pregnant woman is trying to rest in her hospital room after breaking her foot and arm, but her mother-in-law pays her a visit, despite specifically being told not to

Image credits: rawpixel.com / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The mother-in-law asks if she can visit her pregnant daughter-in-law in the hospital, but her son tells her she can’t visit because his wife needs rest

Image credits: Drazen Zigic / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The mother-in-law shows up at the hospital anyway, stressing out the pregnant woman, almost sending her into early labor with her drama

Image credits: ltt77

The mother-in-law gets kicked out by the nurse after stressing out her daughter-in-law, causing her to have contractions

The OP (original poster) was supposed to be celebrating her baby shower when fate had other plans – namely, a nasty fall that landed her in the hospital with a broken wrist, a broken foot, and a whole lot of pain. But just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, her mother-in-law decided this was the perfect time for an uninvited visit.

Now, most people, upon hearing “No, please don’t visit,” would take that as a clear, polite boundary. Not this mother-in-law. Instead, she saw an opportunity. When the OP’s husband ran home to let the dog out, his mom swooped in like an opportunistic seagull eyeing a dropped French fry.

Ignoring direct instructions from both her son and the mother of her soon-to-be grandkid, she waltzed in, bombarded the poor woman with questions, and stressed her out so much that she started having contractions again. Luckily, the hospital staff knew what was up, and a nurse wasted no time in escorting this lady out. But not before she had already caused enough stress to possibly send the OP into early labor.

When the OP’s husband returned to find out what happened, he wasted no time in actually handling the situation. He called his mom and let her have it—though, unfortunately, we don’t get the exact transcript of what was said. But let’s be honest, we all know it probably involved some variation of, “Mom, what part of ‘no’ did you not understand?”

A mother-in-law who ignores a direct request not to visit a hospitalized pregnant woman isn’t just clueless—she’s showcasing some serious self-centered behavior. Instead of considering the OP’s physical pain, stress, or, you know, the whole “trying not to go into labor” situation, she made it all about her own wants.

This kind of behavior often comes from a place of entitlement, where the people see themselves as the main character and everyone else as supporting actors in their life’s grand production. Unfortunately, reasoning with someone like this is like trying to explain WiFi to a pigeon—it just doesn’t compute. The only real solution? Set hard boundaries and stick to them like superglue.

Image credits: DC Studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Setting boundaries should be a simple thing – state what you need, enforce the rule, and watch the magic happen. But with pushy people, especially family members, it’s never that easy. To find out more about this topic, Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Sharon Martin, LCSW, author of The Better Boundaries Workbook and Cutting Ties with Your Parents, for some comments.

She told us that family members may disregard boundaries for various reasons, including a lack of respect for personal autonomy, a desire for control, or cultural and generational differences that prioritize family obligations over individual needs.

We asked Dr. Martin how boundaries can be enforced with people who consistently ignore them. She explained that maintaining firm and consistent boundaries is essential. “Enforce your boundaries every time they’re violated, or they’ll learn they can be ignored. If they continue to disregard your boundaries, follow through on consequences, such as limiting contact or ending conversations,” Dr. Martin suggests.

“Focus on changing your behavior rather than asking the other person to change; this gives you more control. For example, if someone sits uncomfortably close to you, get up and move rather than asking them to move,” Martin explains.

We wanted to know what common mistakes people make when trying to set boundaries. Martin suggests that a lack of clarity, inconsistency, guilt-driven decisions and the absence of consequences are at the top of the list. While vague boundaries can lead to misunderstandings, failing to enforce them regularly teaches others they aren’t serious. And, without enforcement, boundaries lose effectiveness.

We asked Dr. Martin when it is necessary to cut ties with someone who refuses to respect boundaries. She explained that cutting ties should be a last resort, typically when repeated boundary violations continue to cause harm despite multiple attempts to address the issue. Ultimately, protecting oneself from ongoing harm should take precedence over maintaining a toxic connection.

What do you think of this story? Drop your comments, and most memorable mother-in-law stories, below!

People in the comments suggest the woman focus on her recovery, and should ask the hospital staff to not let her mother-in-law in again

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