Her in-laws implied she ate her daughter’s candy, then banned her from a Thanksgiving plate. She drove over and said, 'Here’s your food back'
'Clearly those people want to control your life as much as possible'
A simple sentence can seem laced with double meanings if repeated over and over again. "Emily" (u/No-Air-668) thought her in-laws getting her daughter her favorite candy whenever they were in San Francisco was the start of a cute tradition. But when they assumed she ate her daughter's candy and cake, it rubbed her the wrong way. But the last straw was their comment about her attendance at Thanksgiving that made her see red. The post was shared on October 26, 2026, and it has gotten 488 upvotes and 104 comments.
AITA for returning all the food my in-laws bought my daughter after my FIL accused me of eating her candy and told my husband he couldn't bring me a Thanksgiving plate?
by u/No-Air-668 in AITApod
Thanksgiving punishment
Recently, Emily's father-in-law asked her husband to grab some of their daughter's favorite candy while he was in San Francisco. But then he asked, "Is Emily eating the candy?" Her husband assured him she wasn't. Emily was offended by the question, but she let it go. On October 25, her in-laws called her husband to discuss the holidays. They wanted the entire family together, but noticed that Emily had been missing family dinners. They could've asked him to make sure she came this time. "They told my husband that if I don't attend Thanksgiving, he's not allowed to bring me home a plate of food," the author noted.
Gluttonous mom
The last straw was when they brought up the candy again. Emily wrote, "They started emphasizing that the things they'd purchased, including candy and a cake, were specifically for my daughter." It angered her. She said it made her seem like she was "some fat a** sitting at home eating my child's food? That the only reason I'd show up to Thanksgiving is for a free meal?" Even if that wasn't what they meant, it made her feel icky.
In a rage, she grabbed the cake and candy, drove all the way to their house, and said, "Here's your food back. Now you don't have to worry about me, my husband, or my daughter eating anything you purchased." She never asked them to buy her daughter anything, and concluded, "I'm not going to sit there and let someone repeatedly make comments that feel like digs at my weight or imply that I'm taking food away from my own child."
Festive friction
Sadly, most comments criticizing one's weight come from friends and family. A study by Marla E. Eisenberg discovered that 35.9% of young adult females and 22.8% of young adult males received hurtful comments about their weight from family members. Aside from the indirect comments about Emily's weight, her in-laws' decision to restrict her from receiving a Thanksgiving meal if she didn't attend became a source of resentment.
A 2023 American Psychological Association (APA) survey found that 89% of American adults were concerned about different issues right before the holiday season, including family conflict caused by holiday stress. Lastly, a 2018 YouGov survey found that 39% of Americans reported getting along "very well" with their in-laws or partner's family. Only 3% reported they did not get along.
'False accusations'
People filled the comment section with their opinions about their in-laws and questions about why they want to control their daughter's candy. u/captianjack60 commented, "Your FIL is looking to degrade you by making false accusations. I would be careful letting your daughter go to holidays without you, as they will fill her head about you. Your husband has your back, telling them you did not eat anything." u/Prudent_Valuable603 wrote, "NTA. Sounds to me like their love towards your daughter is conditional and comes with strings. F that."
More on Scoop Upworthy
Share on Facebook
