Why I Blocked My Mother-in-Law on Social Media

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I recently decided to block my mother-in-law on Facebook, and honestly, it was a decision made for the benefit of everyone involved. Seriously. It’s a digital act of kindness that helps preserve peace during family gatherings—and beyond.

Let’s be real: having your mother-in-law as a friend on social media can be a recipe for disaster. Once you hit that “friend” button, she’s bound to scrutinize every post you make, especially anything featuring her beloved grandkids. While she adores those little ones (who wouldn’t?), some of your posts might unintentionally ruffle her feathers. Before you know it, you’ll be exchanging snarky comments that spiral into a full-blown debate—one that inevitably ends with you venting to your spouse about how impossible she is. Cue the chaos!

I don’t just block her on Facebook; I’ve also done the same on Instagram. Twitter, though? That’s a public battlefield where I have only 140 characters to express my thoughts. But hey, at least it limits the potential for drama to a manageable level.

It turns out, I’m not the easiest person to have as a virtual friend. If you’re connected with me online, you better brace yourself for some Outspoken and Profane Posts. I’m passionate about many issues and have no qualms about calling out bigotry or sexism when I see it, both online and in real life. I share everything from selfies of my vibrant green hair to candid shots of my wine glass at the end of a long day, captioned with “Cheers!” Of course, my family members chime in with their well-meaning but annoying comments like, “Who’s watching the kids?” Spoiler alert: they’re fine with their dad.

Here are five reasons why I chose to block my mother-in-law on social media, and why you might want to consider doing the same:

1. Unintentional Hurt: Every time I post a picture of me and the kids having fun without her, I can see her heart sink. She might wonder why she wasn’t invited, and the last thing I want is to make her feel excluded.
2. Different Sense of Humor: Our age gap means our humor doesn’t always mesh well. If I post a lighthearted selfie where I’m jokingly scolding my kids, her response will likely be something sweet and saccharine that makes me cringe. I can already picture her dialing my husband to suggest I need a “break.” No thanks!
3. Divergent Beliefs: Our backgrounds and life experiences shape our beliefs, and let’s just say ours are worlds apart. If I share my support for LGBTQ+ rights or my criticism of religious dogma, I can expect a backlash that I simply don’t want to deal with on social media.
4. Public Embarrassment: Our relationship is a bit rocky, and I wouldn’t want to air that dirty laundry for all to see. I’d rather handle our issues privately instead of letting the online world witness our ups and downs.
5. Reliving the Drama: Social media allows past arguments to resurface any time we log in. No one needs a constant reminder of every disagreement we’ve had; it’s exhausting!

If you have a great relationship with your mother-in-law and think this is all nonsense, good for you! But consider that someone in your life—a cousin, aunt, or even a family friend—might also benefit from a little social media distance.

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In summary, blocking my mother-in-law on social media has been a necessary step for me to maintain sanity and peace in my online life. Sometimes, it’s just better to keep certain relationships off the digital grid.