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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want MIL to “redo” our baby’s name with her priest?

978 replies

Bobcomp · 15/07/2025 14:25

Bit of a weird one. MIL is super Catholic, we’re not religious at all. DH was raised that way but doesn’t really practise anymore. We had a low-key christening for DD (2mo) at our local church - not mega religious, just more of a naming and welcome thing really. We chose her name together - it’s a bit modern but nothing out there. MIL smiled through gritted teeth at the time but didn’t say much.

Fast forward to now - she’s apparently gone and spoken to her priest (very traditional Catholic church she still goes to), and arranged for him to do a “proper” blessing in a couple of weeks. Only she’s told us she’ll be using DD’s middle name during it, because “it’s more suitable for a Christian child” and “closer to the saints”.

She says it’s not a big deal - that it’s just a personal thing between her and God and she’s not trying to change anything officially. But it feels really off to me. She’s literally taking it upon herself to get our daughter re-blessed with a different name because she doesn’t like the one we picked.

DH thinks it’s daft but harmless - says let her crack on, it’s just her being dramatic and it’s not like it’ll go on any documents. But I feel like it’s crossing a line? Like she’s trying to override us or pretend she’s the one naming our child? I don’t want this to turn into some weird power thing where she starts calling DD by her middle name and acting like that’s her “real” name.

Also worth saying - she didn’t even tell us until it was already arranged. Just dropped it in like an FYI on Sunday after church, said we’re “welcome to come” but it’s “mainly for the family and Father Liam”.

AIBU to think this is weird as hell and not ok? Or should I just ignore it and let her have her moment? It’s messing with my head more than it probably should.

OP posts:
Muffsies · 16/07/2025 19:42

I don't care how Catholic her and her priest are, a baptism is a baptism, you do it once and it's done forever. You can do it yourself with a bucket in the back garden, or in Westminster Abbey, it's all the same. If she was properly religious she'd know that.

Tell her she can take a picture of her grandchild on a special pilgrimage and say a prayer for her, maybe gift her granddaughter a rosary that's been blessed by the "special" priest. Baptisms don't get do-overs.

Kjpt140v · 16/07/2025 19:43

You put you foot down NOW. If you don't, then life will be a battle until she turns her toes up. Your baby your rules. Tell her to piss off the baby ain't going to be there. Also tell your gutless husband where to get off if he tries to persuade you to go.

Braygirlnow · 16/07/2025 19:43

Twinkletoes62 · 15/07/2025 20:50

No no no, also have a (Irish) catholic MIL and was always overstepping the mark. If its any consolation it has improved as she has aged and our kids are grown ups!

Yes, my catholic mil was the same, things have improved since she died! 🤣

RoseSnake · 16/07/2025 19:58

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

BluntLion · 16/07/2025 20:04

She said what??? I've heard it all now lol. Absolutely no way OP.

Solocup · 16/07/2025 20:08

This is nuts. If your husband doesn’t tell her to wind her neck in over something this serious then you are gunna have serious problems down the line. Of all the crazy mil / wet DH posts, this has got to top them all.

CustardySergeant · 16/07/2025 20:15

Solocup · 16/07/2025 20:08

This is nuts. If your husband doesn’t tell her to wind her neck in over something this serious then you are gunna have serious problems down the line. Of all the crazy mil / wet DH posts, this has got to top them all.

"DH spoke to her earlier and told her (very firmly) that it’s not happening and that she’s massively overstepped." That's in the OP's most recent post.

FeetLikeFlippers · 16/07/2025 20:17

MIL is bonkers. If it’s “a personal thing between her and God” she can go and talk to her priest about it on her own and leave your DD out of it! I know the term is thrown around a lot, but she really does sound like a narcissist - self-absorbed, controlling, passive-aggressive and gaslights everyone to get her own way.

Derryherbert · 16/07/2025 20:21

I'm catholic and like things done properly but this is wrong. Your MIL has overstepped bigtime. Absolutely not. She has crossed a line. She had her children and could do what she wanted. She cannot force her wishes on you and your children. A 'no' now may save years of aggro.

TheFormidableMrsC · 16/07/2025 20:23

Kjpt140v · 16/07/2025 19:43

You put you foot down NOW. If you don't, then life will be a battle until she turns her toes up. Your baby your rules. Tell her to piss off the baby ain't going to be there. Also tell your gutless husband where to get off if he tries to persuade you to go.

Why does nobody read the thread or the OP’s posts? This was resolved yesterday and the husband was far from “gutless”. Even the priest got on board. Yet people are saying the same bloody thing on repeat.

legolegoeverywhereandnotadroptodrink · 16/07/2025 20:24

I would get up early on Sunday. Take baby for a nice, long day out.

HAB75 · 16/07/2025 20:25

I would imagine that she doesn't think your DD has a route to heaven, but she is wrong. The priest will set her straight on that point. Everything else is irrelevant - the name stuff is pure nonsense.

I would understand her being tormented if you hadn't had your child baptised - your choice, 100%, but she could have felt desperate that there would be no welcome at the pearly gates. As it is, she doesn't need to worry.

Does she have a history of religion-related craziness? Is that why your DH turned his back? It is good you've nipped this in the bud because confirmation would be the next thing. You are heading that off at the pass by standing firm now.

bevm72yellow · 16/07/2025 20:29

Old sage advice" Start as you mean to go on" in other words once you relinquish to what MIL wants then the expectation will always to be upon you to do so. She is disrespecting your values and beliefs from birth...nip it in the bud.

CatsnCoffee · 16/07/2025 20:41

Do you realise she’ll expect your DC to attend Confirmation classes a few years down the line? Then the Confirmation itself.
In the meantime, if you have another DC there will be another Baptism. If you have a DD, Confirmation will also involve a Confirmation dress and veil.

ButteredRadish · 16/07/2025 20:41

StopGo · 15/07/2025 15:14

Well now you know that despite being the mother you are not family. I bet Father Liam knows exactly what’s going on and has agreed to the baptism. Time for your husband to step up and put his wife and child first.

Yep! Catholicism is so unbelievably cult-ish though so it really doesn’t surprise me at all.

SeaUrchinHat · 16/07/2025 20:45

Well obviously she doesn’t have any right to do that, so problem solved. It won’t be happening. If your DH is not backing you up on this I’d be seriously reconsidering your marriage.

ButteredRadish · 16/07/2025 20:45

@BobcompIf you allow this, this will be considered her ‘real’ name by every catholic person in that family and community. Your MIL will have effectively changed her name in all ways besides legally. Also, any future (catholic) wedding she has, is likely to involve that name being spoken first etc. This is insidious!!!!! Please, please don’t let your DH convince you that it’s ‘actually meaningless’ or some such because I’m telling you now, it’s bloody not.
Just awful.

SeaUrchinHat · 16/07/2025 20:46

Sorry, just seen this is now resolved.

FreyaW · 16/07/2025 20:47

Whooaa...this is crazy 💩.
We're in NI, both brought up with different background, his Catholic mine Protestant. Neither of us "do religion" our child hasn't been baptised/christened/blessed or other... neither was I...but I know for sure his mother brought Holy Water to our home, to do whatever she thought she was doing.. it irked me a bit at the time..but I let it ride, didn't challenge..because..well I had no proof..and it wouldn't have any bearing on how we raised our child. She went to chapel with her nanny a handful of times...maybe twice..I had no objection, openly encouraged it truth be told, because A) It would prove I wasn't a bigot & B) Made her granny chuffed to have her beside her in church. No harm done.
But this is extreme..it's NOTHING to do with her. You need to tell your husband..and maybe even approach the priest and tell them this has been done without your consent or knowledge and you're not okay with it. If your husband can't step up and say no, you'll have to.

Delicate

ButteredRadish · 16/07/2025 20:52

Ignore my last post, apologies! The stupid app told me there were no more posts after your first post OP 😫

Solocup · 16/07/2025 20:52

CustardySergeant · 16/07/2025 20:15

"DH spoke to her earlier and told her (very firmly) that it’s not happening and that she’s massively overstepped." That's in the OP's most recent post.

Good lad.

Yourethebeerthief · 16/07/2025 21:07

Was running on here to say “NOOOO!” But read OP’s updates first and pleased to see how well you’ve handled it

👏🏻 well done OP

Hopingtobeaparent · 16/07/2025 21:08

Couchpotato3 · 15/07/2025 14:30

Daft but not harmless. She is massively overstepping. What else might she take it into her head to do in future if you let this go on? Get your baby's first hair-cut? shoes? etc etc etc.

You need to nip this in the bud right now. Your DH needs to get on board too - he is trying to avoid a confrontation, but this can only get worse, much much worse, if you don't set some clear boundaries right now.

This with bells on!!

Letstheriveranswer · 16/07/2025 21:15

What does she mean by 'its really just for Father Liam and the family but you are welcome to come'. You are literally family!!!

katepilar · 16/07/2025 21:26

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 15/07/2025 14:30

Sorry, is she expecting you to hand over your child for this blessing and not to go? Just say no, your child has already been baptised. She’s welcome to have whatever “grandparent” event she wants but you’ve already baptised your child so it’s done. Say you’re happy to email the priest and explain the confusion, you’ve already done this and have no interest in having another blessing with MILs preferred name.

The child has been christened.