I’ve been watching baby for 5ish months for a family member (my husbands family) and the mom has always made slick little comments to the baby at pickup, I’ve always just ignored it or wrote it off as maybe she’s still struggling with some postpartum. But last week she said something that I just can’t stop thinking about.
It was a day that my son had a baseball game, so we had to leave as soon as mom got there to pickup baby. As we were waiting on her to get there I had to get my other THREE children ready, so I had to set baby down for a few minutes and she was upset that I wasn’t holding her so she was crying a little. Mom got there and I met her at the door with baby, she could tell baby was crying and I explained why. Mom turns to baby and says “oh baby has nobody been giving you any attention all day?” I didn’t fire back because I was honestly shocked, I regret that I didn’t stand up for myself. She did clarify that she was joking but my feelings were hurt. There’s been so many times I’ve had my toddler crying for me to hold her and I have to try and distract her with other things because I’m busy holding and taking care of this family members baby which makes me feel like an awful mother.
Please tell me if you think I’m overreacting, we’ve had so many problems with this mom from the rude comments, rules, complaints, to lying and I’m really thinking about bringing it up to her at the next pickup.
*edit to add: baby is 8 months old*