Support from family can be a blessing, but when it comes with strings attached, it’s more like a burden.

One young mom wanted to be thankful for all the gifts her sister-in-law dropped off, but when every package came with a side of condescension, she began to dread her visits.

Then she finally reached her breaking point.

You’ll want to read on for this one.

AITAH for telling my sister in law to stop giving us stuff if she’s just gonna throw it in my face?

So here’s what’s been driving me crazy. I’m 24, married. My husband’s sister lives in the same city, like 10 minutes away.

We’ve always been civil. Not close, but no drama until this year.

But living in close proximity to her sister-in-law has brought unforeseen challenges.

Ever since we had our first kid, she’s been… I don’t even know how to say it without sounding ungrateful.

But she’s been giving us stuff. Groceries. Baby clothes. Diapers. Random household things.

And don’t get me wrong—on paper, it’s nice. It should be nice.

It sounds nice on the surface, but her sister-in-law’s intentions are much more insidious than they seem.

Except every single thing she gives us comes with strings. She brings it up in front of people. Like, “Oh I’m just glad you liked the swing I got. You guys were really struggling.”

Or “Good thing I brought diapers that day or I don’t know how they would’ve managed.”

And I just sit there. Smiling like an idiot while she paints us like helpless losers.

Her sister-in-law just goes on and on about what a savior she is.

Even in private, she’ll say stuff like, “At least I helped. You’re welcome.” And I’m like… we didn’t even ask for anything.

It’s gotten to the point where I feel anxious every time she shows up with a bag. I literally dread it. Like, what am I accepting this time that she’s gonna use to make me feel small later?

So finally, she lost her patience.

So I told her.

I finally snapped and told her, “Stop giving us things if you’re just gonna rub it in later. We never asked for any of it.” And she looked at me like I slapped her.

But her husband didn’t approve.

Then she told my husband I was ungrateful and disrespectful and “turning the family against her.”

Now he’s mad. He thinks I embarrassed her.

He said I could’ve handled it more politely. That it’s still help, even if it comes with attitude.

Now she’s starting to second-guess herself too.

And maybe he’s right? But also how long am I supposed to pretend like being talked down to is some kind of favor?

I feel like I’m paying for gifts I didn’t even want.

AITAH?

This mother wasn’t paying with money, but she was paying with her pride.

What did Reddit have to say?

Her sister-in-law isn’t the only one in the wrong here.

There’s always room for improvement, but something still needed to be said.

It’s very obvious that her sister-in-law’s “kindness” is nothing but a façade.

She could also handle this a different way too.

She never asked for these gifts, and she definitely never asked to be disrespected in her own home.

Calling it out may have made things worse, but remaining silent wasn’t an option.

If you liked that post, check out this post about a woman who tracked down a contractor who tried to vanish without a trace.