A mother has shared how she kept her baby a secret from her entire family because she didn’t want to make her sister feel sad.
The woman took to Reddit and explained that her sister Jenny, 36, had been trying to have a child for ten years and was also told that her chances of conceiving were very slim.
She also said that her sister became resentful and bitter as people around her started having kids of her own.
When their cousin became pregnant with twins, Jenny became so aggressive that the cousin had to block all contact with her.
Last year, the Reddit user found out that she was expecting. Even though her husband was thrilled, all she could think about was how her sister would react.
“One day, when I was visiting, I was subtly trying to talk to my mum about the idea of me having a baby.
“Jenny overheard and came bursting in saying that me getting pregnant would be one of the worse things I could do to her as a sister. She then started crying and I apologized and left.
“My mum sent me a text saying that I was wrong to bring something like that up knowing how Jenny is and I just started crying. After that, I made a decision to just keep my pregnancy a secret and for nine months that’s what I did.”
But after giving birth, she realized that she couldn’t hide her secret any longer. She then sent a text to her parents to let them know that they were already grandparents.
“They were hurt because not only did I hide something like this from them but that my husband’s parents knew and were very involved.
“I lost it and told them that it’s what they deserved after robbing me of the opportunity to enjoy my pregnancy because I was stressing out about how Jenny would react if/when she found out.
“I’m starting to feel guilty because I know my parents are trying to be there for Jenny who’s going through something she can’t control.”
People on Reddit have reassured the mother that she should not feel guilty, with one person commenting: “I can only imagine your sister’s grief and the hurt she’s experiencing but at the same time, it really sounds like your parents just need to get her into therapy ASAP.point 477 |
It’s not healthy for anyone and it’s also robbed your parents of being able to share that special moment with you, too.point 102 | ”point 105 | 1
Another wrote: “Jenny needs to stay in therapy for more than three sessions. Your parents are enabling her like an addict. Her infertility is tragic but it does not dictate your family’s life and your happiness.
“Block them on socials if you post there. Celebrate as much as you want. Congratulations on your baby. It may be good to reach out to your cousin for support.”
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