Anonymous wrote:This is a strange dynamic to me. You just had a son. So you will one day be the MIL excited to meet her grandchild. I am frankly surprised they have waited almost 3 weeks. I do think asking them to stay in a hotel is reasonable, but if you have room why not have them stay with you and have your husband be in charge of hosting duties? I have 4 children and my out of town in-laws met each of them within a few days of birth. I was grateful to have an extended family who embraced my children/their grandchildren. I think this is just part of the deal and all this boundary talk is why people have such difficult relationships with their in-laws. They are family. Their visit doesn't have to be perfect, but let them in. It truly takes a village.
They aren't family. They are extended family. Their job is to wait in the wings until they are asked to join, then they should join on the grounds that the FAMILY wants them.
The first sense of entitlement from them—the first sign that they think they have a right to force their way into your family, you push back. Set the boundary BEFORE they start forcing themselves in.