A heavily pregnant woman nearly jumped out of her skin after seeing an email her mother-in-law had sent, informing her and her husband that gardeners were on the way to plant a tree in their front garden.
The frantic mum, who is due to give birth this week, says the email arrived at 8 am, with her mother-in-law advising the five-foot tree would be planted that same day.
She says her mother-in-law didn't ask their permission beforehand, and that she had simply gone ahead and made the arrangements without any agreement or sign-off from them whatsoever.
Her three-year-old daughter is named after a type of tree, and her in-laws have previously mentioned they wanted to gift them a tree as a tribute to the little girl's namesake.
The expectant couple have been non-commital about this, worrying their house might be too small, and that it wouldn't fit or look good. No firm plans were made, and whenever her in-laws brought it up, she and her husband let them know they had to think about it.
Taking to Reddit, the exasperated mother wrote: "I told my husband he needed to call the company and tell them NOT to plant anything without our permission.
"I need to see what they want to plant, confirm that it's a variety I like, consider WHERE in the yard it should be planted, etc. I feel like this is a pretty major, somewhat permanent decision about the front of our home and it should be up to us.
"Also, I don't really have time to deal with this and make these decisions this week (why did they have to do it this week?!), as I'm working right till my C-Section date and trying to prepare the rest of the house for the baby coming this week."
She continued: "My husband thinks I'm overreacting because I'm pregnant. He says his mum is 'just trying to be nice' and it's a gift, so it's fine. I think it's very intrusive to order a renovation on someone else's home without their consent."
One fellow Reddit user wrote: "Your mother-in-law chose the perfect timing to pull this s***. She knew you would be too insanely busy and preoccupied to put up a fight. She's showing who is the boss and your husband has agreed that SHE is the boss.
"A tree is an amazing gift, but only if you have the room and time to baby it. They are fragile when first transplanted, and you both will be too busy with a newborn and toddler and work, etc."
Another advised: "Tell the company to go plant the tree in her yard. You do not have the space nor the time to take care of a newly planted tree.
"In any other circumstance and with permission, this would have been a wonderful gift, but considering the timing of this 'gift' and the fact she did not clear this with either of you first, have the landscapers plant the tree in her yard."
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