Dog Mom DIL Demands Equal Treatment With Moms With Kids After MIL Skips Her For Mother’s Day Gifting
Mother’s Day is all about showing love with flowers, cards, and meaningful Mother’s Day gifts. It’s a special time to appreciate moms for their care and support. For most families, it’s a warm and happy celebration.
But what happens when someone thinks being a pet parent to dogs should count, too?
That’s exactly what happened to one woman (the Original Poster or OP). She kindly sent out personalized gift baskets to her children who were either already parents or expecting a baby. Each basket was filled with love and thoughtful items made just for moms.
But one of her kids’ spouses didn’t get a gift—and she was upset. Why? Because she believes being a “dog mom” should be enough to qualify for a Mother’s Day gift too.
OP didn’t agree, saying raising dogs isn’t quite the same as raising human children. The Mother’s Day gift basket was meant to honor parents of actual kids, not pets. However, this turned into an unexpected family disagreement.
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Sometimes, the hardest part about ‘Mother’s Day’ isn’t about who is a mother—it’s about who wants to be seen as one
The author sent Mother’s Day gift baskets to her children’s partners who were new or expecting mothers, but excluded her daughter-in-law who struggled with infertility
Her son then insisted that she apologize to his wife, and that she must also send a gift basket to her
The OP (Original Poster) wanted to do something sweet and meaningful for Mother’s Day. With her three adult children busy starting families, she decided to send personalized gift baskets for moms to celebrate.
She sent one basket to her daughter who had just given birth, and another to her daughter-in-law who was expecting. These thoughtful Mother’s Day gift ideas were her way of showing love and support.
However, she also had another daughter-in-law who was struggling with infertility. Wanting to be respectful and sensitive, OP chose not to send her a basket, fearing it might hurt her feelings.
But everything changed when her daughter and expecting daughter-in-law both thanked her in the family group chat for their lovely gifts. That’s when the third daughter-in-law called—clearly upset.
She asked, “Where’s my Mother’s Day basket?” At first, OP was confused. Was she pregnant too?
Then the daughter-in-law explained: she was talking about her dogs. She believed being a dog mom made her just as worthy of a gift. Though she had often joked that her pets were her “babies,” OP never thought she meant it seriously.
OP calmly explained that Mother’s Day is for moms of human children, not pet parents. But the daughter-in-law didn’t take it well. She got angry, cursed at OP, and insisted her dogs were the family’s “first grandkids.”
Even though OP said she loved her and respected her, she didn’t agree that raising dogs was the same as raising kids. Now, her son is asking her to apologize and send a belated gift basket to fix the situation.
Mother’s Day is a beautiful time to show love and appreciation to mothers, grandmothers, and all maternal figures for their endless care and sacrifices. It’s also a popular time for Mother’s Day gifts, flowers, and warm family moments.
But for many women, the day isn’t joyful—it’s painful.
Women facing infertility often feel left out of the celebration. While the world honors moms, these women quietly carry a deep sadness. The day reminds them of something they desperately want but can’t have. In these moments, emotional support and recognition matter more than ever.
Experts say this need to be seen and acknowledged is a natural part of being human. Even if someone isn’t a mom in the traditional sense, they still want their experiences to be respected.
In fact, according to Forbes, many people find purpose and joy in pet parenting. Taking care of pets—especially dogs—can fill an emotional void. For women who can’t or choose not to have children, being a dog mom offers comfort, love, and a deep sense of responsibility. Science even shows that pet ownership boosts mental health, reducing stress and giving people emotional stability.
Still, not being included in family traditions—like a Mother’s Day gift basket—can really hurt.
According to Life Milieu, being excluded from rituals like gift-giving activates the same parts of the brain as physical pain. That feeling of being left out can lead to loneliness, damage to self-esteem, and a loss of connection with others.
That’s what happened to one daughter-in-law, who felt crushed when she didn’t receive a Mother’s Day basket from her mother-in-law (OP). Even though the OP only meant to honor moms with human children, netizens were quick to point out how painful it must have been for the woman who’s been struggling with infertility.
Most people agreed the OP wasn’t wrong—but they also believed a small gesture of kindness could have gone a long way. Something simple—like a card or thoughtful message—might have helped her feel included and respected on a difficult day.
Netizens maintained that the author wasn’t necessarily wrong, but that it wouldn’t have hurt if she had also sent her something to acknowledge her in some way
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