: What should I do if my mother is smothering me? Related Articles My husband and I recently moved closer to my parents because we have two little ones. My daughters are 3 and 4 years old, and I need help with them because my husband and I both work full-time. My mom has a key to our house for when she comes to watch my kids.
While I appreciate all the support and love my mom provides, her frequent and unexpected visits are starting to cause stress. My husband and I value our privacy and the little family time we have together, and her unannounced visits often disrupt our routine and personal time. Sometimes she comes over multiple times a week without prior notice, and it’s starting to feel overwhelming.
I understand that she means well and just wants to be involved in our lives, especially with her grandchildren, but the lack of boundaries is becoming a problem. I don’t want to seem ungrateful — we genuinely need her help with the kids — but we also need to set some boundaries to maintain our own space and time as a family. How should we go about doing this? : Thank your mother for all of her help, and tell her you need one more thing: privacy in your marriage.
Explain that as much as you love her, it is disruptive for her to come over unannounced. You are trying to establish a family rhythm and, without meaning to, she regularly disrupts the flow. Ask her to call in advance to help you establish the privacy that you desperately need.
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