Life & Beauty Weekly

This is a tricky situation since you don’t want to upset or alienate either your husband or his mother. But it’s also perfectly reasonable to expect some private family time.

Before you do anything, think about how the rest of your family feels. Do your kids love spending time with her? How important is it to your husband that she comes along? Be sure to consider their needs and how valuable their relationships are so you understand better why she is included so often.

Then talk to your husband in private. Tell him you like spending time with your mother-in-law, but say you crave more bonding time as a nuclear family. (Your husband may not even realize how frequently he invites her.) Make it clear that you don’t want to cut her out of all family outings, but try to work together to find a way to limit the amount or types of activities she joins. For example, agree to invite her for just a portion of your weekend rather than the entire thing. That way, she’ll feel included and you’ll still have time together as a family.

Your Expert

Irene S. Levine, who holds a doctorate in psychology, is a professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and the author of Best Friends Forever: Surviving A Breakup With Your Best Friend.