'My MIL thinks my toddler looks nothing like his dad. She just made a startling request.'

A family drama is unfolding in real-time online, seeing a domineering mother-in-law request a paternity test for her own grandchild.  

Originally posted on the popular subreddit r/TrueOffMyChest, the mother of the child, Betty*, wrote "the whole situation is embarrassing and I am just done with it." 

"I've been with my husband for five years now (married for three). Long story short, his mum was always overwhelming and bold with her input on everything to put it nicely."

Watch: MM Confessions: The thing I secretly want to tell my mother-in-law. Post continues below.

By all accounts, Betty had been very understanding of her mother-in-law's overbearing presence in her life. 

"I genuinely think it's not fair to be mad at your partner for something he didn't do himself. He can't control what his mum does or says," she said. "But what's also not fair is him not addressing it when I am clearly uncomfortable or upset and instead just talking me into brushing it off."

She confirmed that she would never have 'back-and-forth' with the mother-in-law and that it wasn't worth 'barking at each other' over snarky comments or showing her the 'better way' to parent. 

However, one request was the straw that broke the camel's back. 

"For a while now she has been making comments about how my son doesn't look like my husband when he was a toddler. Basically accusing me of sleeping around. This, rightfully so, upset me."

And her husband's reaction — or lack of it — was as devastating as feared.

"I was short with my husband because he didn't address how out of pocket and disrespectful this whole thing is," she said, adding that the whole situation had made her think there was no future for them anymore.

"It has now been a week since my husband — well, soon-to-be ex-husband — told me that he would be doing a paternity DNA test. Not because he thinks that it's not his son but to shut his mum up.

"I didn't cheat, and I am not concerned one bit about the test results. I wasn't going to stop him from taking a DNA test but I just know I don't want to deal with this any longer. "

After submitting DNA for the test, Betty revealed she was looking for an apartment and talked to a lawyer regarding divorce.

"We'll be getting the results in two days. I can't wait. He would be also getting divorce papers with that too. I know for a fact he won't see it coming," she said. 

"I tried my best to make this whole thing work and manage my relationship with my MIL as gracefully as possible. But thinking about it, it's not just my MIL that's the problem. It's how he is handling things is also a problem.

"I just can't stand my husband anymore. I just don't respect him. I just see an unreliable man and I know for a fact that our fights won't be the same as before," she continued.

In a heavily requested follow-up post, the Betty shared that she invited her in-laws over on the day her husband received the paternity results.

"He sent them to me and told me he would talk to his mother to finally put this to rest. I informed him that I had already invited them for this evening and I was just waiting for my apology before I left. 

"I told him this wasn't working for me anymore. I've already talked to an attorney and filed for divorce, and it might be more expensive than a paternity test, but it would be more effective in making his mother happy." 

Of course, Betty's husband wasn't too pleased to hear that mismanaging his mother would lead to the end of their relationship. She says a 'spectacular fight' ensued, where her husband encouraged her to think about her son and said that if he had known how upset it was making her he would have intervened with his mother's meddling sooner. 

After refusing to sign the divorce papers, the Betty's husband said he would have his mother apologise.

"His mother said she had nothing to apologise for. She wouldn't apologise for having suspicions. She said she didn't accuse me of anything and I can leave if I want to." 

Betty left her home that night. But speaking to her husband later on, she decided that maybe their family didn't need to end over this. 

So, he told his parents not to come over anymore until they apologised, and asked Betty to enter into couple's counselling together. 

"He said I could always file for a divorce, but we should at least try couples counselling because he doesn't want to co-parent. He doesn't want to lose his son, plain and simple," she said. 

"When we talked the second time, he could see how he was wrong, especially knowing his mother. He also mentioned that he'll just shut her down if she meddles this time. But what can I do with just words? I hope he can learn a thing or two on how to deal with his mother in counselling because she is truly overwhelming."

"If counselling would help him understand that a couple means two people (not three) and our marriage is a bit crowded right now, that's enough for me."

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*Names have been changed.

Feature image: Canva.