askmymotherinlaw.com

Dear Mother-in-Law,

It may sound funny, but our family is facing a problem that is probably not unique and I am not sure what to do. My mother in law wants to join my husband’s - her son’s - Facebook page. He and I both are trying to figure out what to tell her since we don’t really want her on our Facebook pages. Some of our entries are rather, well, “personal” items that we’d rather not share with her. She sees Facebook as a way to share more family items, such as pictures of her grandchiildren and so forth.

Facebook daughter

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

I’m stymied. Since I was divorced my family has kind of been pushing my ex-wife away. I am afraid they are doing this simply because of the breakup, but I wish they would not reject her because for about 15 years she was very close to them, and not with her own family, because they lived far away. The latest “problem” in this regard is they are wanting to not invite her to the annual family reunion gathering which she was accustomed to attending. By the way, I have not remarried. I just hate to see her saddened by the family’s rejection.

Jim

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

I love this guy, but he is driving me crazy. He is orthodox (Jewish) and insists on walking from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday, in order to observe Sabbath. We recently went out of town for a family function, and he had to stay with some strangers as their house was close to the synagogue, and his family’s was not….so while he was sleeping at the stranger’s house, I was at his family’s house without him……Help!

Monica

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

My husband and his mother have a passive-aggressive relationship. During the past two years, decisions about visits and holidays have been delayed, muddled, or otherwise messed up because the two of them have a hard time being direct with one another. Increasingly, I find myself in the middle, with my MIL asking me loaded questions about our next visits, vacations, etc., and my husband withholding input until the last minute. I feel as though I am in danger of crossing ill-defined lines when my MIL calls or sends me emails. I’ve talked to my husband about this situation but not much has changed. I’m inclined to keep a low profile and stay out of the way, but I’m wondering what I else I should consider doing to have a positive impact and to make life run more smoothly for all of us.

Stuck in the middle

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

My second child, a 6 months old baby, has quite a personality: she is fussy most of the day and, sometimes, I feel that I don’t have enough energy and patience to deal with her and the rest of the house. Any advice?

Alejandra

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.

« Older Entries

Newer Entries »