Couple needs time away from in-laws

Q My fiancé and I have a sixmonth-old daughter. Since her birth, I’ve had mother-in-law issues. I’m bound to see my inlaws every Saturday for “lunch”

from 1 p.m.-10 p.m. Also, she’ll usually call to see if she can “pass by” after work, which means staying for dinner. Or, some other event arises, so I end up spending two days a week with her. The “family together time” with grandparents can be overwhelming to me. How do I nicely tell his mother that my family takes priority first? It’ll be very hard because she cries when she gets the slightest bit offended. — In-law Demands

A You’ve been swooped up into an in-law love-fest regarding the new baby, just when you need rest and relationship time after having her. They’re excited, proud and eager to be part of your daughter’s life. But what feels like an invasion of “others” is actually an overenthused embrace of their son and you, along with your baby.

Explain all this to your fiancé and ask for his help (rather than just blame his mother, because he’s likely as uncomfortable as you are about her “tears”).

Together, you two need to find time for yourselves as friends, partners and lovers, as well as for your new life as parents.