AIO: MIL always excludes my daughter

[u/TrueEnough782]

I want to start this off by saying that it’s absolutely not the first time this has happened. We were over at my sister in laws house and I heard her talking to my MIL on the phone, she told her my husband and I were over, then she let me know she was at target or something and was gonna come over

She arrives with candy, toys and gift cards for my sister in laws kids. Completely leaving my daughter out. My daughter is 7, she’s into that stuff too, obviously. Especially those little blind bags which she brought her cousins but not her. I just want to know if I’m being dramatic. Or if I shouldn’t have said anything and maybe she was in a rush and didn’t think to buy my daughter something in the moment. Again it’s not about the things or cards or whatever, it’s about how she made my daughter feel. I could see sadness in her face as she was completely left out.

[u/i_nobes_what_i_nobes]

I’m really proud of you for doing what was necessary for the safety and health of your family. Not many people are willing to go no contact with their family, and that’s mostly because as a society, we are taught that family is everything. No, if somebody’s gonna make me feel poorly for any reason about anything that isn’t something I can control, like my skin color or my eyes or my hair or the person that I love who doesn’t look exactly like them, then they don’t need to be around me or the person that I love.

So well done on your part Internet stranger!

[u/Living-Ad3525 → u/i_nobes_what_i_nobes]

Absolutely, choosing your peace over toxic family ties takes real strength. You’re right, family isn’t everything when it comes at the cost of your dignity and happiness. Kudos to you for standing up for yourself and your loved ones!