Relationships
New Baby Thank You Notes: How Soon Is Not Soon Enough?
How long after a newborn gift should one *reasonably* expect a thank you note from the parents?
Relationships
Two Baby Names, One Baby
A baby is being called by her middle name, but not everyone in the family is doing so. Should her parents let the issue go or get the family on the same page?
Relationships
The Alcoholic Mother-in-Law and Grandmother
What do you do when you’re concerned about your mother-in-law’s alcoholism and its effects on her health and the family relationship. Do you intervene even though she’s not YOUR mom?
Health & Safety
The Overfeeding MIL…and the Overweight Child
A mom needs advice on dealing with a loving mother-in-law/grandmother who is overfeeding her child who is on a healthy plan via doctor’s orders.
Pregnancy
The Anxiety-Inducing Mother-In-Law
When you know you need to set boundaries with your mother-in-law, especially as life becomes more intertwined with a baby on the way, but don’t know how.
Relationships
What to Do When Grandparents Play Favorites
Grandma is playing favorite amongst the cousins when it comes to gifts but addressing the issue is not as straightforward as you would think.
Relationships
Update On: The Homeless In-Laws
An update from a letter writer on a particularly hairy and sticky family situation and lessons learned for the future.
Toddler
How to Gender-Neutral Parent in a Family of Bias
A mom is very concerned about how her in-laws are subtly and overtly treating her toddler son vis-a-vis his female toddler cousin, which is dripping in gender-bias. She needs advice on how to handle this tricky family situation.
Pregnancy
Families, Pregnancy & WAY TOO MUCH ADVICE
An expectant mom is experiencing high anxiety from the extraordinary amount of very detailed and unsolicited advice she is getting from her mother and in-laws so early in her pregnancy. She needs help setting boundaries.
Relationships
Full-Time Grandma Is a Full-Time Problem
A step-dad turns to us looking for help on a tricky situation with his partner’s mother and how she is influencing her grandchild, and not in a good way.
Relationships
The Gift That Keeps On Giving: In-Law Drama
A mom is stuck in an awkward family situation with an in-law who is holding an unreasonable grudge. What can she do to make future family gatherings tolerable?
Relationships
Co-Parenting With a Mother-in-Law
Family history means that I’m now a step-mother and effectively co-parenting with my mother-in-law instead of an ex-wife. Please help.
Relationships
A Post-Childbirth Childcare Dilemma
Expectant parents are debating how to handle childcare arrangements for their toddler when they’re in the hospital for childbirth. They’re at a stalemate over grandparent childcare.
Relationships
First Birthday Family Drama
A new mom doesn’t want to her well-known family drama to bleed into and taint her daughter’s first birthday party. How can she maintain the peace?
Relationships
Dealing With the (Homeless) In-Laws
A young family’s house has been invaded by homeless in-laws who seem to have no motivation to leave and it’s disrupting her family’s life. The mother turns to Amalah for advice on how to manage this sticky situation with her husband and in-laws.
Relationships
The Cross-Country Pop-In Visit
A family is having a hard time establishing boundaries with a mother-in-law and grandmother who travels cross country to visit and stay over even knowing it’s very inconvenient for the entire family’s schedule.
Relationships
Holidays and Other People’s Kids
A new mom needs help on whether and how best to intervene when her in-laws kids visit for the holiday dinner.
Pregnancy
Dealing with Pushy, Touchy Grandparents-to-Be
An expectant mom needs help on how to set boundaries and expectations with her beloved (but over enthusiastic) in-laws.
Relationships
Grandparents & the Invisible Partner
My estranged parents want to build a relationship with me and my infant twins. But they still don’t want to accept my partner as a mother to our sons. I find this unacceptable. I need your advice.
Relationships
Mother-in-Law as the Nanny: The Real Costs of “Free” Childcare
My mother-in-law will be caring for my baby daily when my maternity leave ends. How do I set-up appropriate boundaries and manage that tricky relationship?