In-Laws moving in next week....

[TheChicOfIt]

They are moving house and their new apartment is not ready, and as yet there is no completion date. Therefore, they are moving in with us for the foreseeable future.

They are lovely, and we will be grateful for the fact that they can provide some childcare for us (although we won't take the piss), but I can imagine that there will come a time when things get a bit difficult.

Just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation and if you have any tips for coping?

my sister had her inlaws move in, same situation. she gets on really well with them but she said she wouldnt do it again. you need set ground rules from the off. for example in respect of the kids' routine, what you expect from them and what they can expect from you, eg you are not going to come home from working all day to stand and cook their meals etc.

Two words; Ground Rules.

These must be fully established before they move in with you and you must have a leaving date from them. They must have some idea of a completion date. You need to draw up a contract; that sounds a bit drastic but its the only way.

Who does what, what is expected of each other in terms of chores, discipline of children by them, usage of utilities, mealtimes, tv and phone usage, internet usage etc?.

If this has not been thought through properly by the four of you it will go it will all ultimately go badly wrong and quite quickly as well. Relations can sour and could actually never be quite the same again.