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To think MIL is trying to fat shame me

130 replies

Workeronabreak · 26/12/2023 20:13

I had a baby 3 months ago and I gained 4 stone. I’m still trying to lose the last 19 pound. I’m still up a dress size from pre preg but in general I’m fine and I don’t care about the weight gain as my baby is healthy.
MIL has made the odd comments about my weight since the birth, I ignored it and said it’ll come off eventually but I’m not in a rush. DH is supportive tells me I’m beautiful etc so no low self esteem or anything.
So for Christmas every one got a jumper, pjs and chocolates (all of her children, their partners and children). For me she bought size 22 knowing full well I’m size 14 /16 at the moment. She also didn’t get me any chocolates. Normally I don’t care about this sort of thing but the blatant leaving me out was obvious as everyone opened gifts together in the room, one at a time. No one made any comments when I was skipped at the chocolate opening part and I acted like I didn’t care. DH made out like his chocolates were for us both to share, to try and make the situation easier on me.
It isn’t even about the rude sizing or no chocolates as I’m not an ungrateful person, it’s the more I’ve sat and thought, I’ve realised she’s clearly saying I’m fat and that I shouldn’t eat chocolate. She knows my clothes size and she knows I eat what I want in moderation.
I haven’t cared about my weight until this point where I’ve been isolated from the others for it. I’m going to speak to DH when we get home (we’re driving and the kids are with us) but I’m not sure how to feel about what just happened. Am I over reacting by assuming she’s ‘fat shaming’ me or should I say something?

OP posts:
Workeronabreak · 27/12/2023 17:42

Thank you everyone for the kind comments, it’s helped me feel better today. MIL didn’t respond so I gather it was deliberate and she didn’t expect to be called out.
I also just wanted to apologise hugely to those I have offended by saying size 22 is enormous. That comment was about the clothes on me, not the size itself. I tried the clothes on and they swamped me so they were enormous and clearly would never have fit me, proving my point MIL didn’t assume or guess. It wasn’t to point out people at a certain clothes size are enormous at all. I’m not like that and would never fat shame. So once again I’m very sorry for upsetting anyone.

OP posts:
FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 27/12/2023 17:45

Saggypants · 27/12/2023 04:44

Not the main thing, but size 14/16 is not massive at all, unless you're only 4'2", maybe.

I'm 5'11 and that size and definitely overweight in both BMI and appearance!

And when did 'oh, well at least you're not MASSIVE' become an ok thing to say to people?

No, you're right - I was wondering how to frame that and didn't do it very well at all.

I was going from the apparent pov of the MIL who clearly thought that OP was much larger than average, and I was kind of meaning it hyperbolically - but, as I concede, I should have worded it much better.

LeggyLegsEleven · 27/12/2023 18:29

No she told me I could ‘slim’ into the size 6 (I’d have to cut off body parts). She also frequently made comments about weight and food. Mostly I think because I refused to pretend to be on a diet all the time and make a fuss over food. My SIL is larger, always on a diet, doesn’t eat in front of people. I think she thought better of her for it.

SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 19:21
Happy I Love You GIF by Warner Bros. Deutschland

Fair enough @LeggyLegsEleven although if you vary between a size 8 and 12 then a size 6 isn’t far off if you’re looking slimmer that particular year?

I think there’s a danger of taking far too much offence over presents- particularly in there’s a perceived slight connected to body weight . It’s such an emotive issue for most women.

Youve spoken in quite a derogatory way about sil and her “pretending to diet..being larger than you” perhaps you’re now shaming her for her disordered eating?

It’s a minefield- proven by op now coming back tying herself in absolute nots because she might have offended a size 22 person.

Either everyone can take great offence and decide to be deeply upset about clothes that are too big/small or you can choose to laugh it off and view it as a dud present rather a cruel intentional insult deliberately designed to cause misery because they hate you.

SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 19:21

God sorry- no idea how I posted that gif at the top of my post! 😳

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