Help! My Mother-in-Law is Taking Over Our Lives!

Hey everyone,

I really need some advice here. So, my mother-in-law used to live far away, and honestly, it was great because she didn’t interfere in our lives. But now, she’s moved closer and has started coming over to our house all the time. And when I say all the time, I mean it feels like she’s practically living with us!

Her name is Valentina, and while she’s generally a nice person, she’s got this habit of telling us how we should live our lives. It’s driving me and my husband, Jeffrey, absolutely nuts. She comments on everything—from how we should decorate our home to how we should raise our kids. It’s like she thinks we can’t make any decisions on our own.

Jeffrey is caught in the middle because he loves his mom but also sees how her constant advice is stressing me out. We’ve tried dropping hints that we need some space, but she doesn’t seem to get it. I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I also don’t want to feel like a guest in my own home.

Jacob and Aaron, our kids, are starting to notice the tension too. They love their grandma, but even they get annoyed when she starts telling them what to do all the time.

Charlotte, my best friend, suggested that we set some boundaries, but I’m not sure how to do that without causing a family rift. Cora, another friend, thinks we should just be upfront and tell her how we feel, but I’m worried that will lead to a big argument.

So, what do you all think? How can we get Valentina to back off a bit without causing World War III? Any tips or similar experiences would be super helpful!

Thanks a ton,

[Your Name]