I warned you to stop after your third child—I even bought you special pills, hoping you’d reconsider…

I advised you to stop after your third child. I even bought you some special tablets, hoping youd reconsider what you were doing. But it seems all my efforts were pointless.

How many children do you intend to have? my mother-in-law asked with a sarcastic grin.

Lets skip the sarcasm. Are you cross just because Peter told you Im pregnant? Sarah replied, keeping her composure.

Of course Im upset! I told you to stop after three children. I went so far as to buy those special tablets for you, hoping youd think twice about this. Clearly, it was all for nothing, my mother-in-law complained.

We understand how you feel, but we dont want to go against the grain, Sarah responded quietly.

Are you having me on? Well, dont expect any more help from me! Margaret snapped.

Sarah looked like she was about to reply when suddenly the phone rang.

Margaret never really supported her grandchildren. She never took them out, spent time with them, or brought little treats and gifts except on their birthdays. Financially, Sarah and Peter were entirely independent. When Sarah became pregnant for the third time, her mother-in-law tried to persuade her to have an abortion, but the couple refused; in the end, Margaret grew to love her granddaughter. And then Sarah found herself expecting again! Despite the tension, Sarah did her best not to show the strain to Peter, so long as she and the children were happy.

Peter had a well-paid job, and Sarah worked part-time from home. When her small business started to thrive, she even hired an assistant to help with the children. Life was comfortable, if not for Margarets constant disapproval. From the start, she hadnt taken to her daughter-in-law and even hoped her son would divorce Sarah. Those hopes turned out to be misplaced. Then the children came, one after another.

From Sarahs perspective, her mother-in-law objected so fiercely to a fourth grandchild because it meant all of Peters money would go towards supporting his family, rather than helping out his mother. Margaret was used to being looked after. Her son paid for all her visits to the dentist, sent her on spa retreats, and even redecorated her house. Now she feared losing it all! No more extra financial support. The thought of having to forgo her little luxuries made Margaret furious.

Sarah tried to shrug off her mother-in-laws constant negativity, but it was clear it wore on her spirits. Still, it was unlikely Margaret could influence the decisions of her son and daughter-in-law. They would be welcoming a fourth child!

How do you deal with a mother who meddles so deeply in her own childrens lives?