You can't control other people

Casadena

Dear Prudence,

Ever since my husband and I had our daughter, “Lacey” (she’s 3 now), my mother-in-law has ceaselessly offered unsolicited advice on how we should parent her, and I’m fed up. Occasionally, her suggestions are good, but 99 percent of the time, they are just plain stupid. I’ve asked my husband multiple times to tell her to butt out, but he always says to just let her preach and then ignore it—it’s what he’s done his entire life, he says. Short of threatening to cut off her access to Lacey, what can I do to get my MIL to STFU?

—You Already Raised Your Own Kids

banana468

"that's an interesting suggestion."

Mothers in law are full of suggestions and knowledge.  It's not possible that things changed since their sons were born because they only raised perfect specimens that were in no way raw material requiring assistance or therapy when they marry. 

charlotte989875

My MIL let one of our kids sleep next to her on the couch (like him literally lying on the couch, not her holding him). I calmly said let’s hold him or put him in the crib from now on and walked away so I wouldn’t scream. 

If she crosses a line address that but I feel like it’s part of the evolution of parenting that when we know better we do better, but they raised their kids in a different time and that’s okay. 

MyNameIsNot

This isn't a MIL problem, it's a husband problem. If he isn't willing to tell her to butt out, it's time for you to spend less time with her.