My husband and I have been together for four years, married for two. He is Indian, and I am white.
From the beginning, I got along well with my mother‑in‑law. She was warm and welcoming, and I truly liked her. When we told her I was pregnant, she was overjoyed. Our daughter, Sarah, is her first grandchild.
During my pregnancy, my husband and I joked that the baby might look completely white. We knew realistically she would likely appear very fair at first and darken with time. Sarah was born a month ago, and she does look like a typical white baby, though she has a full head of black hair and brown eyes. We think she’s beautiful.
We had decided early on that we wanted privacy during birth and the first week at home. My mother‑in‑law wasn’t thrilled but respected it. Three weeks ago, she came with my father‑in‑law and sister‑in‑law. She smiled widely as I carried Sarah toward her, but when she saw the baby’s face, everything changed. She began shrieking that Sarah wasn’t my husband’s child. Chaos followed, and Sarah cried. My husband tried to explain that pale skin is normal for newborns, but she wouldn’t listen. They left without holding the baby.
Since then, my husband has spoken to her many times, reassuring her. He even pointed out that she herself is light‑skinned, but because he is darker, she insists Sarah should be darker too. She refuses to see us until we do a paternity test.
My husband has no doubts about Sarah being his. Still, he asked me to agree to the test for his mother’s sake and for Sarah’s future relationship with her grandmother. I want that too—or at least I did. Now I’m unsure.
My family lives far away, while his family is close. I had hoped my mother‑in‑law would be a big part of Sarah’s life. But after her outburst, I don’t know if I could trust her judgment or leave Sarah in her care.
So what do I do? Do I swallow my pride and agree to the test? Even if I do, how can I trust her behavior after this?
