Mountain View
Modern Parent
I told my father-in-law he wasn't the man of the house. He blew up. Was I Wrong?
I married into a family that consists of a father (M62), mother (F53), and four daughters whom I'll call Ana (F32), Laura (F31), Jessica (F29), and my wife Sarah (F28). All the sisters are now married, with my wife and me being the last ones to do so.
My daughter’s father has been absent all her life and now only wants to hang out with her every 4 months.
I am seeking advice because my daughter’s biological father has been an active parent for the majority of the past 3 years, however, my daughter is now 4 years old and her father has become increasingly inconsistent in his involvement in her life.
The other day, my MIL arrived up at my house unannounced, then proceeded to not tell my husband the truth
I work from home and it was my birthday. My son was in daycare. My MIL shows up at the door, lets herself in (we have a code lock) carrying a bag of food. She tells me she brought food for my husband and son and puts it on the table.
My husband plays video games all day and it's making me want to leave him
I am a 31-year-old woman who has been married to my husband, who is 44 years old, for almost eight years, and we have been married for three. Initially, everything was great between us. We were always doing things together, and we were happy. However, ever since we got married, and if I'm being honest, even before that, I have not been happy. We are complete opposites, and that used to be okay, but over the years, I have started to resent him for who he is.
My boyfriend thinks I'm a human accessory and wants me to live with him, how do I say no?
When I met my boyfriend a little over a year ago, I wasn't looking for anything serious. After a painful separation from my husband, I was eager to sow my wild oats. But then, I felt a real connection with this man, and we became exclusive. Over time, our relationship deepened into something serious. I love him dearly, but our dynamic leaves much to be desired.
I disagreed with my husband's strict food rules for our daughter - now he's furious
My husband (33) and I (31) have three children: a 5-year-old daughter, a 7-year-old son, and a 10-year-old daughter. We decided to take the kids to a local restaurant for a treat. My husband is very health-conscious and is very particular about what our children eat, which is the main source of our arguments.
Renting a House from My Husband's Dad's Wife Has Been Difficult For Me
My husband and I are currently renting a beautiful house from his dad who owns the property. This arrangement is mutually beneficial for both parties, as we get to live in a lovely home and his dad gets some income from renting it out.
Navigating In-Law Relationships After Having a Baby: Dealing with Rude MILs and Setting Boundaries
As a new mother, I have been adjusting to the changes in my life and trying to navigate the challenges that come with raising a child. While I am grateful for the support and love of my family, I have been struggling with my relationship with my mother-in-law.
My MIL is Overbearing and I'm Struggling to Set Boundaries for My Daughter
My daughter is the light of my life and brings so much joy to those around her. However, I am struggling to find a balance when it comes to my MIL and her involvement in my daughter’s life. Before my pregnancy, my MIL and I had a great relationship. She was supportive and loving, and I looked forward to her being a part of my daughter’s life. But once my daughter arrived, things changed.
I don’t feel like my daughter is my child
I gave birth to a baby girl 15 months ago. When I met her for the first time I felt so disconnected. I couldn’t believe that was my baby. I took care of her and breastfed for almost a year. I didn’t like breastfeeding and it was psychologically exhausting. I felt trapped, tired and I did it with discomfort. I did that regardless because it was better for her and the doctors and my husband insisted on breastfeeding. I didn’t enjoy the feeding as most mothers do...
My husband is on the verge of leaving me
My spouse’s feelings have been deeply soured. We have a nearly three-year-old and a one-year-old. My husband and three-year-old son have always had a strained relationship. My spouse has suspected that our child dislikes him since he was about 6 weeks old. As our first child, he was always drawn to me (mother). Every time a youngster would most likely come to him, the child would cry. It shattered my spouse to the point where he believed the infant disliked him. Their relationship improved as the baby grew older, and they were able to connect and play more effectively. Nonetheless, we relocated near to the family when the baby was 15 months old.
My Relationship With My Daughter Changed Once She Started Wearing Makeup
My relationship with my 12-year-old daughter didn't evolve in the way I had always envisioned due to a lot of drama involving family for a few years. Her dad was not around for a long time, and a couple of years after I met my husband when she was six, her dad came back around, and the whole family dynamic changed because my husband and I were struggling financially, and she had to go stay with her dad. We didn't get stable for a couple of years, and by then, I didn't want to rearrange her whole life again, so she's staying there until she chooses otherwise. Since she was too young to be given that choice, she only recently became aware it was an option.
Does your 15 year old go outside alone?
My 15-year-old daughter has recently started walking to and from our local coffee shop, and she FaceTimes me at specific milestones. It’s only a 5-minute walk each way, but she has also expressed a desire to start walking to a nearby park to “vibe out.” While I want to encourage her independence, I’m hesitant to allow her to go to the park alone.
My Child Is Being Bullied by a Former Friend, and the Friend’s Mom is Backing Her Son Up
During break time at school, my son was bullied by a former friend. Although my son had noticed a change in their relationship, he was not expecting to be punched and kicked without provocation. According to the teacher, other students playing the same game also received a beating from the aggressor. The child’s mother used to be my friend, but we drifted apart due to her busy schedule. Her children used to visit our house frequently but stopped coming because, according to my son, everyone is always angry there. Recently, she called me accusing my son of being a bully because he refused to play with her child, but I explained to her that he only stopped playing because the other child was too bossy. Her child rarely plays with other kids because he is not picked up by a parent after school, but she believes that he should be able to arrange it himself because that is how she was raised.
This has been my worst week as a parent.
I just want a break. This week is the worst week ever. My toddler is in an extremely whiney and clingy phase and has been for 3 weeks already. Anyone else doing anything results in just a total meltdown, and usually, this would be annoying but acceptable because I know it’ll eventually end, but this month has been so emotional.
How do you forgive a parent you have a poor relationship with?
My relationship with my mother has always been rocky. She loves to criticize and complain about everything, leaving me feeling like I’ve never received unconditional love or approval. She has opinions on everything in my life and wants everything done her way only. I know that her issues stem from anxiety, codependency, abandonment, and unhealthy relationships in the past. While she means well, she can be hurtful, mean, and rude. I’ve had to draw boundaries and shut down hurtful conversations, feeling like I’m the one parenting her.
Is it selfish to ignore your husband’s wishes for your daughter’s party?
My husband and I are struggling to come to an agreement on our daughter’s upcoming celebration. We have both agreed that we don’t want a big traditional party because our daughter is shy and we can’t afford it. Instead, we planned to have a small lunch at a nice restaurant after the service, and a special night event with only a few close friends.
I agreed to have a second child for only one reason.
This is the story of my complicated life. It’s been a rollercoaster ride since I got pregnant. I’ve gone through so many struggles — HG, shoulder dystocia, a traumatic birth, pre-eclampsia, my son’s severe reflux and failure to thrive, our battle with COVID-19, my lupus diagnosis, and losing three jobs over the past three years. It’s been a real challenge to get through it all, especially since my husband and I went through a divorce and custody battle. I was thrown out of the house because of my illness, and I spent three years on my own without a job.
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