to hide from my step-mother by "working" in my dining room?

[CelticJuggler]

I normally work from home on a Friday anyway for about 2 hours; DS plays and I pop in and out checking on him.

But my DF & SM are up, and she's is already driving me nuts; nothing major I can put my finger on, but lots of little things; it's like water torture.

• Winding DS up until he is literally bouncing off the walls (he has bruises already!)
• Promoting the benefits of homoeopathy in dealing with her various ailments (to be fair, they're maybe more for her mind, but I've done the polite "they don't work for me", but she is still forcibly recommending x,y,z to deal with my IBS)
• Not washing. DS has already (he's three!) mentioned that "Granny is smelly", so she had a shower, but still the niff is still there...

She is a nice person, and would do anything for us and I am lucky that she isn't a wicked step-mother, but still...

So, I'm hiding out. Actually, I know IABU, but I can feel my sanity draining away, and they're here until Monday morning.

Oh YANBU at all. The alternative sounds like you would explode over something relatively minor so this sounds like a very sensible option to me.

And I'm with you, it sounds horrible.

Don't let so much go that you end up completely overwhelmed with frustration.
Can you step in when DS has had enough and say so? Ask her not to let him get too excited? Tell her politely you won't be using homeopathic remedies because you don't believe in homeopathy?

Would your DF have a word if you asked him nicely?

Tried all of the above. We now only do weekends so DH can run interference, but sadly can't get this Friday off