Getting along with your mother-in-law or daughter-in-law can be tricky, especially if things have been difficult. But what happens when a husband’s ex-girlfriend becomes friends with his mother? One woman found herself in this uncomfortable situation during Thanksgiving dinner.

A 28-year-old woman turned to Reddit for advice after a disastrous Thanksgiving at her mother-in-law’s house. She had been married to her 33-year-old husband, Shaun, for five months, but they had been together for two years. Their relationship with Shaun’s mother had always been strained, with her often being passive-aggressive and critical.

To make matters worse, Shaun’s mother got along extremely well with his ex-girlfriend, Julissa. Despite the breakup, Julissa was still invited to family events because of the strong connection she had with Shaun’s family. Normally, the woman didn’t mind Julissa being at family gatherings, but everything changed on Thanksgiving.

When the woman arrived at her mother-in-law’s house, she found that all the seats were taken. There was no room for her at the table, and she had to sit next to her husband’s ex-girlfriend. Upset by this situation, she pointed out to her mother-in-law that as the daughter-in-law, she had more right to be at the table than Shaun’s ex. However, her mother-in-law disagreed and insisted that Julissa was part of the family too.

Feeling angry and upset, the woman thought about leaving but instead opted to sit on her husband’s lap and try to act normal. However, even with her brother-in-law trying to ease the tension, the uncomfortable situation couldn’t be ignored. Her mother-in-law and Julissa exchanged glances, making the woman feel even more uncomfortable.

After Julissa went to the bathroom, the woman’s mother-in-law followed her. Despite the awkwardness, the woman and her husband continued to eat. When dinner was over, they went home. Later, the woman received a message from her mother-in-law, blaming her for the awkwardness and suggesting that she should have grabbed a chair from the kitchen instead of acting like a child.

While some Reddit users supported the woman, others criticized her husband for not intervening in the situation. They believed he should have given up his seat for his wife or arranged for there to be an empty seat next to him.

In hindsight, the woman wonders if sitting on her husband’s lap was the right thing to do. It’s a tough situation to navigate, and it raises the question of what you would have done in her place.

Despite the difficulties, it’s important to remember that family dynamics can be complicated. Finding a way to communicate openly and respectfully with your in-laws is crucial, even in the most challenging situations.