Woman moans her daughter, 23, is making a ‘huge mistake’ by having a baby so young… but Mumsnet users are furious
PARENTS tend to have a pretty set idea of how they want their kids' lives to pan out.
Some manage to keep that to themselves, others aren't quite as subtle... but they'd better be prepared for others to criticise them too.
That's what one mum found out when she decided to complain to Mumsnet users around her daughter's pregnancy.
The lady was devastated her girl was having a baby... at the age of 23.
"Am I being unreasonable in thinking that my daughter is far too young to have a baby and is throwing her life away," she began.
"My daughter has just celebrated her 23rd birthday (3 days ago) and last night she told me that she has just found out she's 8 weeks pregnant.
"Having had my first child aged 29 and struggling enough then, I simply cannot imagine a young 23 year old girl being able to care for a child sufficiently.
"It was only a few years ago she was a child herself."
The disgruntled mum explains her daughter has a boyfriend who she lives with.
They don't own their flat though, or "have any intention of getting married at the present time".
She admits feeling bad that she's not happy for her daughter, but she just can't get on board with her decision.
"She had such a bright future ahead of her and was on her way to a fantastic career and now she is about to throw all of that away for young motherhood, changing nappies and having no social life or fun ahead of her," she moans.
"Most of my friend's daughters who are a similar age are off on exotic holidays, out for nights out, trips away etc. and meanwhile my daughter will be trawling the local high street cramming nappies in to her trolley.
"Am I being unreasonable in thinking that she is making a huge mistake and that I need to somehow talk her out of this?"
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So obviously the lady is looking for words of encouragement or support... but it turns out she probably should have gone elsewhere.
Mumsnet users are known for being a feisty bunch and they wasted no time in siding with the 23-year-old mum-to-be.
"You are being unreasonable. She is 23 not 16," TheDisreputableDog wrote.
"Old enough to make her own decisions.
"There are positives and negatives to whenever you have a child (I was over 30)."
ThatStewie was more to the point: "She's 23 not 13. You're being a bit ridiculous."
Most users agreed that they expected the woman's daughter to be much younger than she was given the way her mum was carrying on.
"You sound vile. You'll ruin your relationship with her," another user said.
"That's your grandchild you're trying to 'talk her out of'.
"I think you should back off and keep your distance."
There were a few who could understand where the lady was coming from, but even they suggested it was too late to change anything.
"You are not being unreasonable for feeling a sense of loss for the life you envisaged for her," Phoenix1973 said.
"However, you are being unreasonable for thinking you can talk her out of it. It's her choice."
Dogcatred added: "Some of us are just very mature. I graduated in law at 20, post grad law 21, Qualified London lawyer, married, with a small house and a baby, employing a full time day nanny when I was 23.
"If I can do it your daughter can. No need to throw a career away at all. Just keep working full time like the rest of us. Babies don't mean women have to give up careers in 2016!"