HELP with boundaries from grandparents!!
Hey guys, I could really use some advice. My mum has done so much for me and my husband since our first baby was born. I’m an only child, and she’s been incredibly generous – she’s bought our little boy so many things, helped us financially, and during those first three months she was coming over almost every day or every other day. At the beginning, I genuinely needed and appreciated the help. She’d help with the housework or have my baby boy so I could catch up on some sleep.
Now that we’ve settled into more of a routine, I don’t need as much help as I did before. I’ve realised that I really enjoy the couple of hours I get to spend with just me and my baby boy while my husband is working from home and then out at his evening job. I want to enjoy that one-on-one time with him and build our own little routine as a family.
The difficult part is that my mum is also going through a lot at the moment. Her husband (not my dad) has an incurable brain tumour, so I know having us and her grandson around brings her comfort and happiness. Because of that, I feel even more guilty about wanting a bit more space and independence.
I don’t know how to tell her without upsetting her. I know everything she’s done has come from a place of love, and I’m so grateful for all of her support. But I can also see that my husband is starting to get a bit frustrated with how often she comes round. Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you set boundaries kindly without hurting your mum’s feelings?
