Just wondering if any other mums have been through something similar 🫶🏾 Please no debating or arguments, just looking for advice and support

Just wondering if any other mums have been in a similar situation because I honestly just want to feel understood 🥺🤍

My FIL is very against vaccinations, whereas my partner and I have chosen to vaccinate our daughter. Before anything else, I genuinely have nothing against parents who choose differently. This isn’t a vaccinated vs unvaccinated post and I don’t want anyone to feel judged for the decisions they make for their own children. I just want that same respect for the decisions I make for mine.

My MIL is honestly a saint when it comes to this and is completely supportive of vaccinations. Of course we’ve had the occasional disagreement or comment about my parenting, but nothing I can’t handle. This situation is specifically about my FIL.

He has questioned and made comments about our decision to vaccinate our daughter multiple times, and it has reached the point where I just avoid him. If he comes to our house, I’ll sometimes leave the room, have a shower or find something else to do and wait until he’s gone. I hate admitting that because this is my own home and I shouldn’t feel like I need to disappear just to avoid feeling uncomfortable.

I’m already going through a really difficult postpartum period. I’ve been stressed and crying almost every day and I’ve now been diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety. I’m trying really hard to look after myself and be the best mum I can be, and having my parenting decisions continually questioned is just adding another layer of stress that I really don’t need right now.

I don’t need my FIL to agree with vaccinations. I’m not trying to change his beliefs. I just need him to respect that we are her parents, we’ve made this decision with her medical professionals, and it isn’t something I want to continually defend or debate.

Has anyone else had a family member disagree so strongly with one of your parenting decisions that you eventually started avoiding them? How did you set boundaries without completely destroying the relationship?

Please no vaccine debates — I’m genuinely just looking for other mums who understand what it feels like to have your decisions as a mum continually questioned. 🫶🏾

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Aw i am sorry you’re going through this. I had that happen. A lot. From both in laws. We hope they would at least respect our decisions as parents. They made theirs and you do what’s best for your family. It’s okay to make time for yourself and find other things to do. Unfortunately it got too bad we had to avoid them and go low to no contact. They criticize us for low contact and our parenting decisions, and they act very entitled about how and when they need to see the kids, not all of us. I’m glad you’re doing what’s best for your family and perhaps you could have a talk about building respect without having to defend and debate just a “you do you and I do me but we do us together”? I always want to talk with mine but when we did they were not understanding and would overstep boundaries and then complain. so if yours are way more kind and compassionate then I’d say that might be the best next thing haha

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