Hello! I’m not sure what category I should pop this one in so I chose parenting as I guess it could fall under that, maybe?
i obviously love my parents deeply but since I’ve had my first baby they seem to be overbearing, almost smothering me. They want to see us once or twice a week - if I’m
busy they take it personally and stop talking to me! When I do see them they completely ignore my parenting (if I’m popping my baby to sleep when out they will keep lifting the hood on the pram and interacting with her etc). They constantly put down my parenting and disagree with what I’m doing and tell me how they did it - I’m 35 so you’d think they would respect my choices more. They just seem to treat me like a child.
If I mention I’m planning on going shopping or picking up a prescription they immediately say they will do it and when I say no they push and push and keep “telling me” they will do it.
they tell me when they are coming over instead of asking when it’s good for me, then get annoyed if my
baby is sleeping when they come. When out if I try and put her down for a nap because she’s tired my dad says things like “you haven’t come out just to go to sleep” - aimed at my baby. And then when she’s sleeping the entire time they ask how long & when will she be up etc.
it’s just getting exhausting for me now and I’m starting to resent seeing them so often.
they keep banging on about having my baby without me there. It’s constant every time I see them. If I say I’m not ready yet etc they just keep bringing it up.
(So does my MIL but that’s another story!)
they never had this much contact with me, saw me this much or had any comments on my life before I had my baby - it just feels like since I’ve became a mum they’ve started treating me like a child / trying to control what I’m doing etc. it’s hard to explain but I just feel like I can’t say a plan I’m doing or anything because they will jump on it, invite themselves or just take over it. No matter how many times I say no thank you.
i know I sound selfish and I’m so grateful my parents are around as many people don’t have them around, so I don’t mean to be horrible. Maybe it’s just a hormone regulating thing that will soon ease off.
maybe this is normal from parents / grandparents and I just need to get used to it. Sorry for waffling on!