Help! My Mother-in-Law Won’t Stop Calling Us for Weekend Help

Hey everyone,

I really need some advice. My mother-in-law, Lillian, is driving me up the wall. She keeps calling us every weekend, asking us to come over and help her with various things around the house. It’s gotten to the point where I feel like we don’t have any time for ourselves anymore. I’m 35 years old, and I think I have the right to spend my weekends how I want, right?

My husband, Michael, is a bit of a mama’s boy and feels guilty if we don’t go. But honestly, I’m starting to resent the whole situation. I love Lillian, but I need some boundaries. We’ve tried talking to her about it, but she just doesn’t seem to get it. She always has some new “emergency” that needs our immediate attention.

I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don’t want to cause any family drama, but I also don’t want to spend every weekend at her beck and call. How do I set boundaries without coming off as the bad guy? Has anyone else dealt with a similar situation? Any tips on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Ellie