MIL calling my baby a fibber

Hey girls, please tell me if I’m overreacting, but I’m getting annoyed by my MIL repeatedly calling my 9 month old baby a ‘fibber’. It’s mainly when I’ve left them in a room alone together and as soon as I come back my baby looks at me and cries for me to pick her up. My MIL instantly says ‘oh you’re such a fibber’ or ‘stop fibbing’ to her. She says it in a ‘jokey’ way, but I just don’t think this is something you should say to a baby for wanting their mum. I don’t want her to grow up feeling she can’t ask for me when she see’s me. I have had quite a rocky relationship with my MIL since my baby was born, as she’s said things and behaved in ways that have been quite upsetting to me, but I’m trying to move past it. If I say something about this I feel it will be seen as me ‘overreacting’ to something that she thinks is acceptable. Advice please! X

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Hii my baby does. He will be fine and happy, and as soon as he sees me, he cries. Mine is 100% a fibber, no doubt about it. Everyone calls him this too. Doesn't bother me at all.

If it bothers you, it’s absolutely a boundary you can and should put in place! I’ve had the conversation with my mom! Very similar, would call him a whinge bag. It bothered me, but it really bothered my husband. As she’s my mom, I didn’t sit her down and say “don’t do this” but the next time she said it in front of me I said “actually mom, we are trying to avoid saying things like that have a negative connotations round emotions.” She rolled her eyes, but has stopped! Could your husband be the one to say something?x

My baby does this. Will be absolutely fine. See me and then gets beside herself! I think its that realisation that you left them for a bit. If it bothers you definitely set that boundry. My brother in law has called my son naughty before and my husband had a chat with him. That we don't say things like that. As Emily has said rather than having a sit down conversation just bring it up next time she says it, in a kind way....."we would rather we don't use labels like that" so it's a rule for all, not just for MIL.

I had counselling after my LB. One of the things I spoke with her about was my relationship with my mum and her telling my 2 year old that 'you're not hurt' - which a big trigger for me and something I don't think you should tell anyone. My counsellor acknowledged where I was coming from but said that in reality, it's us as Mums that really have the impact. If we are consistent, nuture them and make sure we don't bring that negativity in ourselves, wider family members impact is much less significant. It's hard and I do get where you're coming from. I just found it an interesting reframe of the hurt and frustration and helped me improve my relationship with my mum

Hey love, I can understand it triggers you when your MIL says that, but you are aloud to feel what you feel and no one can invalidate that, you could set some boundaries and let your MIL (if your comfortable) know what they are, it’s your child and yours and hubbies life so sorry but that means your way. You can bring your children up how you like and if that’s something that is a no no don’t be afraid to say it your well within your right to do so. I don’t like it when someone says naughty to my LG so I tell them calmly we don’t like using words associated to negativity around her

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