Relationships
The In-Law Tug of War, Continued
A mother-in-law writes in for advice about a daughter-in-law who plays favorites and keeps her from spending enough time with her grandchild.
Pregnancy
Labor & Delivery Turf Wars: Delivery Room Bullies
A first-time expectant mom needs advice on how to manage her pushy family and in-laws before, during and after labor and delivery.
Relationships
My Two Grandmas
A grandmother is being asked by her daughter to forgo “Grandma” for an alternative name to be called by her grandkids. She needs some advice.
Baby
Mama: More That Just a Name
When a mother-in-law’s self-chosen name for “grandma” hits a little to close to home for the mama-to-be and causes feelings of sadness.
Baby
Grandma The Underminer
My mother-in-law watches my children during the day for free, but it’s costing me my sanity! She is undermining my wishes left and right.
Your Life
Advice for New Grandmas
A grandmother-to-be wants to know how to be a help after the baby arrives…instead of a pain in the butt.
Your Life
The Mother-In-Law From Under the Sea
Another day, another horrible sea-monster of a mother-in-law. How to handle a difficult mother-in-law and preventing bad repercussions on your marriage.
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?
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.
Toddler
The Daytime Caretaker vs. Nighttime Potty Training
My mother-in-law potty-trained my twins and forbade us from using pull-ups. We’ve had nightly accidents ever since but she won’t budge! Will we really ruin everything by using pull-ups at night?
Parenting
In Mother-in-Law We Trust
Should we let his mother buy us life insurance…even if she’s demanding control of the benefits?
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.
Holidays
Santa-In-Law
I told my mother-in-law that her tradition of playing Santa before Christmas might be confusing to my young daughter and now she’s upset. What should I do?
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
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.
Health & Safety
Nuts About Nut Allergies
My mother-in-law refuses to take my child’s nut allergy seriously. What should we do?
Pregnancy
Withdrawing From the In-Law Guilt Games
This expecting mother is receiving hurtful comments from her future in-laws about their lifestyle and parenting choices (already!). Amalah provides some guidelines for navigating that tense relationship.
Baby
Parenting Choices & Passive-Aggressive Mother-in-Laws
How to handle situations when you disagree with your own family members over parenting choices. When it is worth making it an issue and when to let it go.
Postpartum
An In-Law Relationship Makeover
The holidays are around the corner and my relationship with my husband’s family is a mess. How can I fix this? Should I fix this?
Baby
Building a Long-Distance Bond
When Grandma hasn’t bonded with the grandbaby, it’s not time to get mad. It’s time to get creative. We have several ideas.