mother-in-law

My Mother-in-Law Is All Up in My Business to an Uncomfortable Degree: How Can I Politely Get Her To Back Off?

My Mother-in-Law Is All Up in My Business to an Uncomfortable Degree: How Can I Politely Get Her To Back Off?

September 24, 2020 / Advice / By

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mother-in-law. She says that her MIL is all up in her business in a way that feels very inappropriate. This MIL makes critical, insulting comments about her daughter-in-law’s house and mothering skills. She has told this mom that it is her responsibility to sexually satisfy her husband (aka the MIL’s son). She has pestered this mom about having more children. This mom doesn’t want to end the relationship with her mother-in-law, but she does need a change. How can she talk to her in a polite, productive way?

My In-Laws Are Verbally and Emotionally Abusive Towards Me, and My Husband Isn't Helping: Advice?

My In-Laws Are Verbally and Emotionally Abusive Towards Me, and My Husband Isn’t Helping: Advice?

September 18, 2020 / Advice / By

A mom writes in asking for advice about her in-laws. She says her husband’s family is constantly insulting and criticizing her. They told her she was lazy for sitting on the couch just two weeks after giving birth. They called her names. Her mother-in-law even told her to make a will because if she didn’t, the mother-in-law would fight this mom’s parents for custody of the kids in the event of her death. She adds that her husband refuses to help and has even told her that if she says anything negative about his family, he doesn’t see their marriage working. What should she do?

My Mother-in-Law Thinks I'm Deliberately Keeping My Child Away From Her... And I Guess I Am, But Only Because She's an Essential Worker and I'm Playing It Safe

My Mother-in-Law Thinks I’m Deliberately Keeping My Child Away From Her… And I Guess I Am, But Only Because She’s an Essential Worker and I’m Playing It Safe

September 14, 2020 / Advice / By

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mother-in-law. She says her MIL “swears” this mom is deliberately keeping her 7-month-old away from her. And in a way, that is true, because this MIL is an essential worker, and this mom wants to keep her family safe during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. Still, this mom is not deliberately trying to keep her child away, and she is not doing so to be rude or petty. How can she communicate this to her mother-in-law?

My Mother-in-Law Very Clearly Favors My Youngest Child Because of Biological Relation: Advice?

My Mother-in-Law Very Clearly Favors My Youngest Child Because of Biological Relation: Advice?

September 14, 2020 / Advice, Relationships / By

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mother-in-law. She says that her mother-in-law favors her youngest child over her oldest. This mom suspects it is likely due to the fact that her youngest is her mother-in-law’s first “blood” (or biological) grandchild, as her older child is from a previous relationship. Still, it bothers this mom that her MIL so clearly favors one over the other. What should she do?

My Mother-in-Law Expects to Be Waited Upon Hand-and-Foot Whenever She Enters My House: Advice?

My Mother-in-Law Expects to Be Waited Upon Hand-and-Foot Whenever She Enters My House: Advice?

September 14, 2020 / Advice, Relationships / By

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mother-in-law. She says her MIL expects to be waited upon whenever she is in her home. She sits back, watches her daughter-in-law do everything — cooking, cleaning up, etc. — and in general makes no effort to help. This mom is fed up and feeling like she’d rather not have her MIL over at all if this is how she’s going to act. Read advice for her below.

My Mother-in-Law Trash Talks Me and My Kids: How Do I Tell My Husband I'm Done?

My Mother-in-Law Trash Talks Me and My Kids: How Do I Tell My Husband I’m Done?

September 14, 2020 / Advice, Relationships / By

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mother-in-law. She says she’s always had a problem with her mother in law, who has made disparaging remarks about her and both of her grandchildren. After moving in with the mother-in-law, at her own request, this mom was once again subjected to hurtful comments. She left with her kids and went to her own parents’, but how can she tell her husband she won’t return to his mom’s

My Mother-in-Law, with Whom I Have a Terrible Relationship, Was Diagnosed with Cancer: Can I Still Cut Her Out of My Life?

My Mother-in-Law, With Whom I Have a Toxic Relationship, Was Diagnosed with Cancer: Can I Still Cut Her Out of My Life?

September 14, 2020 / Advice, Relationships / By

A mom writes in asking for advice about her mother-in-law. This mom has had a truly terrible relationship with her mother-in-law, to the point where they pretty much cut off all contact. Now, though, her mother-in-law has cancer, and this mom is wondering if it would be wrong to continue excluding her MIL from her life. Both she and her husband (her MIL’s son) are conflicted and don’t know what to do, given the toxic nature of the relationship.