The Stocking That Ruined Christmas: How Pregnant Redditor Rejected Sister-in-Law’s Attempt To Name Her Unborn Son

A Reddit user recently explained that she has been married to her husband Todd for three years and is currently pregnant with their first child together. Todd already has a nine-year-old son from his late wife, and while the OP generally gets along with his sister Monica, she says Monica has taken on a controlling, matriarch-like role in the family since their mother passed away.

According to the Redditor, tensions escalated shortly after she and Todd learned they were having a baby boy. Monica immediately began pushing for the name “Tommy,” a suggestion the OP firmly rejected because she and Todd had already chosen a different name they both loved.

Rather than stepping in, Todd attempted to stay neutral and suggested that Monica could simply use the nickname Tommy. The OP refused, explaining that she wanted her role as the child’s mother respected, and Monica initially agreed to back off.

The situation boiled over when Monica invited the couple to her annual Christmas dinner. When the OP visited her home, she noticed stockings hanging for all the children, including one labeled “Tommy,” which Monica said was meant for the unborn baby.

The Redditor says she immediately confronted Monica, demanding that the stocking be removed or corrected. After a heated argument, she stormed out and declared she would not attend Christmas dinner unless the stocking issue was resolved.

Todd was furious, accusing the OP of overreacting and trying to control what his sister did in her own home. He argued that skipping Christmas would ruin an important family tradition and unfairly impact his son, who loves spending the holidays with his cousins.

Things grew more uncomfortable when Monica’s husband, Philip, called, urging the OP not to “ruin” the holiday for the entire family. Now feeling isolated and ashamed, the Redditor is questioning her reaction and wondering if she truly crossed a line.

The OP noticed stockings hanging for all the children, including one labeled “Tommy,” which Monica said was meant for the unborn baby.

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Here's the original post by Reddit user 'Dear_Beyond8984'.

To preface, I (F) have been with my husband Todd for 3 years. He has a son (9) from his late wife. Todd is pretty close to his sister Monica. Their mom's deceased and Monica has basically taken over. She's nice to me and all but she seems to be a bit controlling especially when it comes to Todd. But that wasn't a real issue until after I got pregnant. After we found the gender of the baby (boy) she insisted on the name "Tommy" but I refused because I already had a name in mind and Todd loves it but he chose to stay out of the fight saying maybe we should just let Monica call him Tommy. I refused and asked her to please respect me and the fact that I'm the mom not her and she said okay. Like always, she's hosting christmas for the family this year and invited me and Todd to christmas dinner. I was intending on coming that is until I'd discovered that she hung stockings with her kids, nephews, neices names and hung a "Tommy" stocking saying that it's for my son. I was livid. I lost it on her and there was a huge fight. I told her I won't be coming to her christmas dinner if she doesn't remove the stocking or put the real name and then I left. Todd started yelling at me when we got home saying that I was attempting to ruin an important family tradition by refusing to come and said that I was overreacting and cannof be telling his sister what she should or shouldn't do in her own home. He tried to convince me to come but I said no. Not until she removes that stocking and it doesn't look like she's going to do it cause he spoke with her and he's now mad at me for "making a huge deal out of it". Her husband Philip who's usually nice to me called yesterday saying that he spoke with Todd and he'd be devastated if I cause "the family" to miss the event at Monica's house and ruin it not only for the adults but for the kids as well since my stepson loves spending the holidays with his cousins. Todd has been quiet and the only way we communicate is through Philip. I feel ashamed. Maybe I overreacted. AITA? Edit: to answer someone's question, no, I did not ask Monica to put a stocking for my son (she said it was for my son) It was her decision although I find it weird since the baby isn't even born yet.

Here's how the Reddit community reacted.

AWholeNewFattitude

Todd needs to man up!

Use_this_1

NTA.

cagriuluc

Todd needs to deal with it.

littlehappyfeets

Seriously?

Disastrous_Gate_5559

A glimpse into the future.

Odd-End-1405

Make the stocking disappear.

No-Station-6986

"Your husband needs to start standing up to his sister."

RoyallyOakie

Your husband doesn't respect you.

Guilty-Shape-6878

"Your husband is the biggest AH."

thejackalreborn

"There is no way you can justify her behavior."

Literally_Taken

"You have a husband problem."

RLS2023

Hubby needs to pick a card.

AutumnNightFox

As the 2025 holiday season nears, this mother-to-be must decide if protecting her maternal boundaries is worth the cost of a broken family tradition. The "Tommy" stocking may be small, but the battle for respect it represents could leave a lasting shadow on her son’s first Christmas.