Postpartum
Embracing the MIL Silent Treatment
An expectant mom needs advice on how to handle her overbearing MIL now that she’s expecting her second baby. She doesn’t want to feel emotionally bullied again.
Relationships
The Grabby Grandparents
A mom is upset with her husband’s side of the family at a recent gathering meeting the new baby. But, was the interaction overenthusiasm or boundary-crossing?
Relationships
Grandma Has RIGHTS (and Won’t Let You Forget It)
Handling a mother-in-law who routinely comments about grandparental rights to take custody of a baby because she disagrees with parenting decisions.
Relationships
Please Don’t Feed My Baby Dog Treats (and more serious concerns)
A new mom needs help from her boundary-busting mother-in-law who continues to defy her wishes but also has terrible judgment around her baby.
Relationships
When Your Partner Takes Your MIL’s Side
A mom needs new advice on how to handle her relationship with her husband which takes a turn for the toxic when even talk of her in-laws enters the conversation let alone visiting them.
Relationships
How to Make Changes When Your MIL Won’t Change
A mom needs advice on how to handle her difficult relationship with her mother-in-law who also helps care for her young kids part-time. The DIL very much feels like she needs a break from her MIL, but is her plan the right way to go?
Relationships
The Toxic Mother-in-Law & a Band-Aid Grandbaby
A mom-to-be needs impartial advice on how to handle her husband who is holding out hope that his mother will change stop being mean towards her once her baby is born. How can she protect her feelings and her baby from her toxic mother-in-law?
Relationships
MIL (and Grandma) Issues: Is Two Strikes Enough To Be “Out?”
A mom needs advice on handling her alcoholic mother-in-law and her relationship with the grandkids and herself. She wants her out of their lives but is does that have to be the first step?
Relationships
Corrosive Favoritism
When parental favoritism by in-laws is making its way overseas and exacerbating family drama.
Relationships
Mother-in-Laws, Grief & Boundaries
When a mother-in-law’s grief triggers extreme boundary issues with your nuclear family. What do you do?
Pregnancy
A Delivery Room Stand-Off
Ah, the politics of the delivery room guest list. An expectant mom needs help on setting boundaries with her overbearing mother-in-law.
Toddler
The Premature Crib-to-Bed Transition
A mom made a mistake and prematurely moved her young toddler to a toddler bed and now needs to decide whether she should move her back to her crib.
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
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.