A PROBLEM SHARED

Mum of two Anita Naik has been an agony aunt for 33 years

- ANITA NAIK

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LEAVES ME CLOSE TO TEARS

I'm dreading Christmas. Nothing is ever good enough for my mother-in-law — the food is too cold, the decorations are tacky, and my house is untidy. Last year, she made comments about my weight and parenting choices, leaving me close to tears. My husband tries to defend me, but this usually ends in an argument.

This isn’t your failure - some people are determined to be difficult. You can’t change her, but you can control how you and your husband deal with this. Boundaries need to be set beforehand, rather than in the moment. If she challenges them, the situation has to change. Would meeting at a neutral location or on a different day be better for your family?

3 ways to...

KEEP CALM AT CHRISTMAS

LOWER THE BAR. Christmas magic comes from being together, not from everything being perfect. Decide what truly matters to you and let the rest go. Your family will remember your happiness far more than whether the potatoes were crispy.