Help! My Mother-in-Law is Taking Over and Embarrassing Me in Front of Guests

Hey everyone,

I really need some advice. My mother-in-law, Delilah, has been staying with us for a while now, and things have been getting pretty tense. Last night, we had some friends over for dinner, and out of nowhere, Delilah started criticizing me in front of everyone. She said things like “To ja tutaj rządzę i ja decyduję” (which means “I rule here and I decide”) and made a few snide comments about how I run the household.

I was so embarrassed and didn’t know how to respond. My husband, Dylan, tried to change the subject, but the damage was already done. Our friends, Joe and Eliana, looked super uncomfortable, and I could tell they didn’t know what to say either.

This isn’t the first time Delilah has done something like this. She’s always been a bit overbearing, but it’s getting worse. I don’t want to cause a huge family rift, but I also can’t keep letting her walk all over me, especially in front of guests.

Has anyone else dealt with a mother-in-law like this? How did you handle it? Should I confront her directly or try to talk to Dylan about setting some boundaries? Any tips on how to keep my cool in these situations would be really appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Gianna