Oct 14 2012

A question regarding extended family drama

As you all know, I was raised in a very strict Mormon family. For those not familiar with some of the Mormon beliefs, motherhood is considered to be the epitome of womanhood; the ultimate goal women can strive for in this life. Thankfully, when I left the church, I left that mentality behind. However, I have a very large extended Mormon family who still believes that women should strive to be mothers first and foremost.

Every quarter, my extended family sends out a family newsletter that includes updates from everyone from that particular quarter. Each quarter, they pick a different family group to be highlighted. This past quarter, my husband and I were selected to be highlighted because we had just gotten married in June. We were asked to submit a bunch of information about us as individuals and us as a couple.

We highlighted our hobbies, our house, our wedding, our furry family, and I ensured that I included a statement about the fact that we plan to be childfree. Honestly, I included it because I didn’t want to be getting comments from family members about when we plan to get pregnant.

It was edited out. The family members who create the newsletter deleted that comment. And honestly, I’m really bothered by it.

But I’m not sure if I should be bothered or not. What do you think?

20 notes
  1. lorichtimes answered: If it were me, I would send out an addendum to the entire list. But hey, I’m a smart-ass.
  2. supersecretstealthymode answered: Uh that’s incredibly rude. I’m offended for you.
  3. memoriesnraindrops reblogged this from helvetebrann
  4. cortibah answered: It’s deliberate erasure. It’s worse than saying ‘we disagree blah blah’ - they’re refusing to acknowledge that you even wrote that.
  5. solo1y answered: Getting fucked by editors is the bane of current affairs writers everywhere.
  6. queenofthegeese answered: I would be super irritated by it. That’s super rude and they had no business editing any of your responses.
  7. writingmyrevenge answered: That’s really rude of them! It is possible that they just didn’t want to make the rest of the family angry and were protecting you though
  8. noworseforwear answered: express to them that it is your information, it is ABOUT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND, and it should be accurate. these people are nuts!
  9. sizzlykinman answered: I’d be bothered, it’s rude to edit something personal like that. They could have at least talked with you about it first.
  10. william-co answered: You should be bothered. They’re basically censoring and changing your opinion/voice. I’d write/talk to them about it. It’s not right.
  11. thewalrusisagod said: That’s ridiculously belittling and petty. It’s one thing to disagree with things you feel or do, it’s another to completely censor out your personal statements. Especially when they ASKED you for it, in the first place. I’d be bothered.
  12. randomactsofchaos answered: I think you have every right to be bothered by it - it shows a lack of respect for your choices, which are completely valid
  13. the-agnostic-atheist answered: It’s not really a huge thing, but I’d still be bothered. They’re asking about you and changing the story from what you tell them.
  14. apostatecrusader answered: Should you be bothered that they edited out the parts of you they didn’t like? Yes. Especially if you specifically wanted that mentioned.
  15. khrysta-for-pretend said: I come from a Mormon family too, so I completely understand. My Mormon family is sneaky like that too.
  16. khrysta-for-pretend answered: I would be bothered too. They had no right to edit out what they thought was appropriate or not.
  17. potential-and-difference answered: Should be. That’s manipulation and misrepresentation of your opinion.
  18. helvetebrann posted this