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
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
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.
Relationships
In-Law Appreciation Day
A mom would love a recommendation for how to show her extra helpful mother-in-law some very deserving and special appreciation.
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.
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.
Pregnancy
(Baby) Showers With Strangers
My mother-in-law (who now lives in the South) wants to throw me a baby shower. But the guests are her friends and only my acquaintances. I feel uncomfortable about this. What should I do?
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?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
Baby
Advice Smackdown UPDATES!
Everybody’s favorite! Reader-submitted updates on past columns, questions and queries.
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?
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
The Mother-in-Law Con
Help! My mother-in-law is an honest-to-God criminal, and my husband wants her to move in with us.
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?