If you get together with your family or your SO's family, does parenting become stressful?
When we are planning on getting together with our families I always worry someone will try and give their two cents, because it's happened several times before! It makes getting together hard because parenting is challenging enough as it is!
Does anyone else run into this issue with their family?
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I am really really lucky but generally no. I mean, parenting away from home is always really hard, but all of our families are really supportive and positive and will reinforce things that we say and abide by our rules. I have plenty of complaints about family members but in this regard I am very happy.
watermelon / 14467 posts
Yes, my mom tries to parent and then my SIL tries to parent. I get that they have both raised kids, but these are my kids and I get to make these decisions.
eggplant / 11716 posts
Not really. Occasionally something small will happen, but overall our families are pretty good about this stuff. Also, I'm pretty opinionated in general, so I'm quick to share my opinions about the parenting decisions I'm confident about--so they don't say much back to me, haha.
persimmon / 1445 posts
Not with my family- my parents really respect my choices and we have never really had a problem with them. My ILs are nice but they will just blatantly ignore what I ask them to do with my daughter- sometimes even right in front of me. I try to nicely remind them of the rules but they will just say "It won't hurt her" (watching too grown up movies and wayyyyy too much TV in general, feeding, sleep schedules, etc). I know she won't die if she watches TV all day and skips a day's worth of veggies but it is really irritating and makes me not want to spend time with them.
grapefruit / 4321 posts
Not with my parents. They don't interject often, but if and when they do, I have no problem reminding them to please let us handle it and they always respect that and apologize for jumping in. Around my in laws, it sucks. My MIL will contradict me in front of the kids and my husband won't call her out and it makes me insanely angry. If I tell my child not to do some don't say "oh, she's fine". No, she's not fine, I told her no! I once mentioned how I love that my LO said "lellow" for "yellow" and that I wasn't going to correct her because it's so cute. My MIL actually said the words "I might have to overrule you on that". EXCUSE YOU?!?
honeydew / 7622 posts
Yes because DD strongly prefers either grandma over DH or I and screams and try to hide if we approach her while in grandmas arms. So we have just been having grandma care and going out while she is in this phase. I can only be rejected so much until I get the point
nectarine / 2821 posts
@Truth Bombs: ew. that phrase... just makes me want to scream on your behalf! My MIL would say something like that!
apricot / 488 posts
Yes! I went to my parent's home for the first time since E was just a few weeks old (he is now 8mo) and they didn't understand BLW. So many passive aggressive comments.
same for my in laws. They don't understand why I still want to nurse E and the fact that he still takes naps (like what baby doesn't take naps at 8mo?!)
pomegranate / 3127 posts
Yes. It's kind of a logistical thing. My MIL has a small apartment so when we get there, the kids can play on the floor while the adults chat right there and watch them. It's very relaxing. My parents have a house, so when we come over I'm always chasing DS up and down stairs, into different rooms, into the yard, all while carrying DD because she won't just play on the floor for very long if she's alone in the room... I'm exhausted by the end of the day and can't wait to go home. I'm baffled that no one offers to take over the toddler chasing or baby entertaining, but hey, it's not the most fun thing, so I sort of understand.
pear / 1837 posts
Yes, my parents don't respect my parenting. My dad is always slipping DD treats (to the point where she tells him, my mom won't let me have that). I get a lot of "she's at the grandparents house" or "we are the grandparents so we can do that"- um, nope. I also get grief from my sister- she will say "she's in bed at 7:30? Geez"- like, mind your own business. Don't judge me. I get riled up just thinking about it. Sigh.
nectarine / 2436 posts
@Bao: my family and in-laws never say anything but I know they're judging me. It stresses me out
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 1 |
| Posts | 1 | 3 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
13 comments