New grandmother pushes boundaries
Dear Amy: My husband and I recently welcomed our first child. On my side of the extended family, our baby son is the fifth grandchild, but on my husband’s side, he is the first. I am trying to be sensitive to the excitement and extra attention a first grandchild receives.
My mother-in-law has been to our house for a visit of a week’s duration each month since the birth. Each time she visits, I am more hesitant to welcome her back. She is disregarding the parenting strategy my husband and I have adopted in favor of her own techniques. She does this against our specific instructions and without discussion.
My husband has stepped up and politely addressed our concerns multiple times with his mother. She either apologizes (without any change in her behavior) or tells him that she prefers to do things her way.
I am ready to toss manners, along with any future invitations to visit, out the window, but I do not want to start a family drama centered around our child. How should I approach the situation? — First-time Mom
Dear Mom: Talk to your husband and develop a plan for communicating with his mother — together. This presents an opportunity for you two to offer a united front regarding behavior that seems to bother both of you.
Boundaries must be drawn. After you draw your boundaries, you should patrol them — respectfully, but firmly and consistently. Essentially, you will be training your mother-in-law on how to treat your family. If you demonstrate some leadership now, you will have the opportunity to establish a healthier and more respectful relationship moving forward.
If you don’t like the pressure of handling an extra person in your household for a week every month, you should take steps to reduce either the frequency of these visits, or their duration. Also, ask yourselves: Are there childrearing matters where you can be more flexible? Are you so bothered by her overwhelming presence that you are missing opportunities to learn from her?
You and your husband should outline the basics: “Mom, we don’t expect you to do things exactly the way we do, but you must respect our choices for how we’re raising our son.” When she subverts you, you’ll have to tell her how her behavior makes you feel (disrespected and frustrated).
Express your hope that you can work things out, because you want to support her having an active and positive relationship with her wonderful grandson.