My sister-in-law Candice has always been self-centered, but nothing could’ve prepared us for her latest request. She actually asked my husband and me to have a baby—for her—as a birthday present. Yes, you read that right. She wanted us to go through pregnancy and childbirth just to hand the baby over like a gift. Naturally, we refused. We already have two kids, and the idea was beyond outrageous. But instead of dropping it, Candice and my mother-in-law doubled down,

saying it was a “small sacrifice” since we already had children. The entitlement was unbelievable, and it became clear they had no respect for our boundaries.That’s when I decided enough was enough. If they wanted to play games, I’d play along—but on my terms. I pretended to agree to the ridiculous idea and staged an entire fake pregnancy. I went all in for nine months, complete with baby bump updates and carefully timed social media posts.Then, on Candice’s birthday, with the whole family gathered to celebrate, I handed her a beautifully wrapped baby carrier. The room went quiet as she excitedly opened it—only to find a doll inside.Candice was speechless. My mother-in-law looked horrified. And then my husband’s grandmother,who had stayed quiet through it all, stood up and finally said what everyone else was thinking: she was done supporting their toxic behavior. It was bold, dramatic, and probably a little petty—but it worked. Sometimes, the only way to get the message across is to shock people into seeing just how absurd they’re being. Some lessons really do have to be learned the hard way.