My Mother-in-Law Believes She's a Crucial Part of our Kids' Bedtime Routine. Yikes.

What’s going on here?

The author is a parent who has been putting their kids to bed alone twice a week due to their husband’s overnight shift. Despite having a routine and managing bedtime smoothly, the author’s mother-in-law consistently calls and offers to come over to help with bedtime, even after being politely declined multiple times. Recently, the author confronted their mother-in-law about respecting their boundaries, but the mother-in-law showed up uninvited to their home regardless. The author is frustrated and seeking advice on how to communicate this issue to their mother-in-law.

What does this mean?

The author is dealing with a persistent and intrusive mother-in-law who seems to have difficulty understanding and respecting boundaries. The mother-in-law’s behavior of constantly offering help with bedtime, even after being declined, and showing up uninvited indicates a potential mental health issue. The author acknowledges that the mother-in-law sees the kids regularly, so the issue is not about denying her access to the grandchildren. Instead, it is about establishing clear boundaries and getting the mother-in-law to understand and respect them.

Why should I care?

This situation may resonate with readers who have experienced overinvolved or boundary-crossing family members. It highlights the challenges of setting and maintaining boundaries, especially when dealing with someone who may not respect them. Additionally, it raises the importance of addressing potential mental health issues and seeking appropriate help if necessary.

For more information, check out the original article here.