'AITA for making a scene at get-together after in-laws targetted my son with jokes about his adoption?'

A mother recently turned to the popular Reddit forum r/Am I The A*****e (AITA) to seek advice after an uncomfortable situation at a family gathering involving her 10-year-old son, who is adopted.

In her post, the woman, who goes by the username EntireAd8492, detailed how her husband's family made repeated jokes about her son’s adoption, leading her to leave the event with her son.

Mother defends son after family jokes about his adoption

According to her post, the trouble began when her 4-year-old niece asked why her son had different skin color than the rest of the family.

Before the mother could respond, one of the grandparents jokingly said, "That's because he's from a different planet!" Though no one laughed, the woman’s son appeared visibly upset, "However, my son turned red and looked down, seemingly upset and embarrassed, and didn't say anything."

The Original Poster (OP) asserted that witnessing her son upset prompted her to stand up for him. "I immediately stood up for my son and told the grandparents that they were being disrespectful, but they just laughed it off and continued making jokes about his adoption to my son's cousins," she wrote.

Despite her husband's support, the grandparents insisted they were not in the wrong and claimed the couple was being "sensitive."

This was not the first time her husband's parents had made such comments, and the mother explained that her son had been increasingly uncomfortable during similar gatherings.

Eventually, the woman decided to take her son and leave the gathering, prioritizing his emotional well-being. On the way home, when she asked how he was feeling, her son simply replied, “I’m adopted,” which deeply affected her.

In her post, she questioned whether she was getting upset over nothing after her husband complained that she was "overreacting," explaining her dilemma about whether to continue interacting with her husband's family.

She said, “I'm now considering never meeting the grandparents again,” adding that these recurring comments had become a source of emotional distress for her son.

Mother reveals truth behind son’s silence

In an update to her original post, the mother revealed a startling revelation from her son. After a heart-to-heart conversation, her son admitted that the grandparents had made even worse comments when the parents were not around, but he had never spoken up because he didn’t want to cause trouble.

The woman expressed her shock and heartbreak at this confession and stated that, as a result, she had decided never to visit her husband's parents again.

She called their behavior “straight-up abuse” and was considering legal action, while also planning to have a serious conversation with her husband about the situation.

The post has since garnered significant attention on Reddit, with many users supporting the mother’s decision to protect her son from further emotional harm.

Reddit community rallies behind OP for protecting son from emotional harm

The mother received overwhelming support from the Reddit community for taking a strong stand to protect her son. Many users praised her for prioritizing her child's emotional well-being and applauded her decision to distance him from the harmful behavior of his grandparents.

A user said, "NTA You keep protecting your child mama."

Another added, "NTA. Be that mama bear that every child needs!"

One commentator claimed that the OP didn't only have issues with her in-laws but also with her husband, "NTA, unfortunately you have a husband problem as well."

"NTA, totally NTA!!! Your husband's family is being extremely disrespectful to you and your son. Also, your husband is an a****le too for not being supportive of your choice in leaving," said one in OP's support.

A person said, "NTA - I’m so sorry for what you and your son experienced, can’t believe husband said you were overreacting. Being family is not a free pass to be racist, make people feel uncomfortable or single anyone out. Good on you for sticking up for your baby, although it sounds like a shitty moment he’ll always remember how his mum took his side and stood up for him 💜"

Another chimed in, "NTA, the grandparents are down right emotionally abusive and shouldn’t be allowed near your son!!!"

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