Hello!

Does anyone have a mother-in-law that pries in their life? For example, tells you what solids to start for your baby and just annoying things like this?


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  • Aw, that would totally work on my nerves. I would just respond in a neural tone “thank you for your advice” (and then throw it out of the window). You could consider to move away, distance can help


  • I have two sisters-in-law that are quite bossy. Fortunately I don’t live close to them so the distance helps to get along with them.


  • The situation you use as an example isn’t really prying. It’s suggesting, she may think she’s helping


  • Unfortunately yes. She quite often gets her nose out of joint if she feels we haven’t told her something or we tell other people things and not her first! And she’s very good at manipulating people by using tears! The list is endless. I’ve learnt to live with it and tell her what I think when I need to in a polite but firm manner.
    I think sometimes mother in laws find it difficult because as mothers/daughters we are often closer to our own mothers and naturally spend more time with them etc.
    We just have to learn to try & make it work.


  • I honestly have the mother in law from hell. She is awful, very critical of myself and my husband (her son). She always comments on weight, our choice of lifestyle, our wedding, our children. She thinks she knows best about everything. We had quite a few arguments etc, and it has taken her to lose contact with us, for her to have a look at herself and her behaviour.


  • Have you thought that maybe she doesn’t feel involved enough? I mean maybe she just wants to help. Anyway i can’t say more than “say thank you but this is what the health nurse and paediatrician said so i think i might not be able to follow your advice”.
    Good luck


  • Yes i had one and we had some barnies over my boys. As far as I was concern their were my boys and i knew them better then she did. Yes she had brought up her lot and some of her grand children were already parents. It did not give her the right to tell me how to bring them up. My husband told me to follow what she said. Yes I listened to the advice but did not need to act on it just like I did not have to act on information my mother gave me. Try to be polite and let her know that you know she cares but you need to find out for yourself if mistakes are being made. Do miss MIL sometimes but my children have turned out alright and have not killed or maimed then yet.


  • My sister is a nosey mother in law, she tells her daughter in law do this and that and how to do this and that and when to do it. Not to mention,ms he delights in telling anyone who’ll listen about the mistakes her dil makes. It’s pretty sad


  • Mine learnt to butt out pretty quick and I guess im lucky that her comments are few and far between (still cut to the bone though!) But she knows it’s been 30 odd years since her children were born and 12 since her other grandchildren were born so asks how we do things now. For example when her son was born they were told to prop the baby on it’s side using pillows – can you imagine! Maybe thats a way to embrace the common ground – ask how she used to do things and tell her what has changed. It is hard as the daughter in law as they want a close relationship with their grandkids but there’s always that element of being judged by them


  • i know how you feel especially when you want to keep the peace and respect but they blatantly disregard, disrespect and push their way in. put your foot down & let them know the boundaries & that you will ask for an opinion & do it nicely or just grin & bear it


  • just smile at her and agree with her pain in the b**ts


  • I could write a book. Tell her to mind her own bees wax or just smile and ignore her.


  • My best tip is, she can say what she wants but you are the mother and you can do what you feel is best for your baby. My mother in law had her last child 31years ago and has had no other children around her for years I just remind her that things change over time and it’s my choice. Most people have something to say about when you should and shouldn’t do things just remember you don’t have to follow what they say.


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