I wrote an essay. :) In advance, my apologies for the length. But I really needed to respond to this.
As far as I'm concerned, it's within your rights to feel annoyed by this. Even more so as general opinion seems to be you should shut up and accept it because it would offend her. Quite frankly, that's her problem not yours. Any reasonable person would feel this way and I think it's ridiculous, and ironically, even more offensive that as a whole, a score of women in this day and age is telling another to silence her voice and feelings. Get real.
What she needs to do is back off, she's disrupting your life by barraging you constantly with photos and messages that actually have very little point. Yes, you welcome the milestones, everyone does; first word, saying their name, riding a bike, etc. But otherwise it is akin to being told on social media every time someone has farted - there's been plenty of those types, and they're not welcome. You understandably become a little resentful and even dread getting messages. Completely normal. Not only that, but if this behavior is also on a public setting, that child's life has been seen and can be tracked by how many people? What about consent?
As said before, she needs to back off and RESPECT your boundaries, if she can't understand and do that, well, that shows what type of person she is doesn't it? Besides, honesty is always best, and even if hearing it people get offended in the beginning, if it makes your relationship richer (because it's a two way street people!) then all the better, right? A good analogy for a relationship (any one) is it's like a garden, you have to feed it, water it, and prune it, to make it flourish.
Also, why on earth do you have to go to a forum discussion to ask a question like this? Get some dignity and self respect woman! Own your feelings, you're allowed to feel them, it's why we have them.
A better question would be: How do I phrase this so it causes the least offence?
In conclusion, you need to get your big girl pants on, and tell her. Sharing opinions and feelings isn't disrespectful, it's HOW you deliver them. And you don't need to justify them, when they are your right.
Don't block her, don't be petty, don't be mean. Simply tell her.
Cause if you never say anything, nothing will ever change.
And maybe she'll be a little hurt initially, but if she gets offended and lashes out, quite honestly, she needs to put HER big girl pants on. Then again (as I don't know her), she might merely be embarrassed and sorry for not realizing the impact that it was having on you, that she got a bit overzealous. You know her, you know how to speak to her. Do it.
To everyone:
- Just because an opinion might cause offence to someone doesn't mean you should have to sit down and shut up. I thought this was something we have been fighting against?
- Communication and honesty allows people to gain a true relationship; knowing where each person stands, and being able to trust that person. (I've been able to have some really great relationships because I was honest, not cruel, but honest. Others felt they could be the same way with me. There was no judgement, there was no cruelty. Just opinions that were constructive, pointed out the flaws, and showed us where we erred, and what we could fix. So we could grow. There may have been a little bit of hurt initially (which is understandable), but in the end what came out of it all was strong and pure.)
- Respecting a person's boundaries is important. If you can't do that, you show you don't respect them
- No one should ever make you feel guilty for having feelings and opinions, it's your right to have them, it's your right to voice them.
Please remember:
Equal rights.
Respect.
Don't just say them. Live them.