My mother in law is great grandma but she is driving me nuts. She gives me advice and warnings on many fronts which are to my knowledge ridiculous. For instance she wants to me to put my baby in the sink every time she poops in her diaper. She doesn’t like for me to use wipes. She also thinks that I’ll make my daughter cross eyed by giving her toys that she looks at too closely… that I’ll make her bow legged if I let her put weight on her legs when baby clearly is trying to stand up with support against chest… Dear Mother in law thinks that I feed my baby too often and that I should wake the baby from naps so she can play with her. That I need to stop breastfeeding on a certain date she has chosen. She is even starting to talk about education choices for my baby and my baby is only a few weeks old! I’m really overwhelmed by this and am tired to all the advice and tired of my own reactions as I think it is unhealthy for me to be feeling this stressed and annoyed after a c-section. Oh yes — my mother in law thinks that I should have healed LONG AGO from the c-section and that something is wrong with me since I can’t lift heavy objects yet. I love these people and want my daughter to be close to them but I will protect my baby from the paranoia and control and I will feed my baby when she is hungry because that is the style of parenting my husband and I have chosen. I feel like my mother in law thinks I am a naive and stupid teenager. I’m in my thirties! I don’t want to hurt this woman and my dear husband loves her so and refuses to make issue with all of this. He says “pick your battles.” I am trying hard to be a good daughter in law and be the mom my baby deserves. Any advice out there on how to deal with all of this insane advice and paranoia. Thanks in advance!
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2 Responses to “Great Grandma but…”
Do what you think is best for your baby. She’s probably only giving this silly “advice” because she wants to feel like she is needed and involved. She really needs to back off.
wHEN MY mil tried this i simpily told her that HER SON and I had made these desicisions proir to the baby and we had it covered if i needed help i would ask her for it b/c i know she did a great job raising her three boys by herself…..try to talk to her nicely ONE TIME ONLY after that just REMINDER her that you’ve got it under control she’ll eventaully go to her son to complain and when she does he’ll tell her the same …. Chin up hon sometimes it helps to just let it go in one ear ***nod***um-ummmm* and let it back out the other side
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