From Oct board:MIL advice needed for sure.. highly appreciated

paulinaramirez

It really just hit me that my MIL will be here during the week of my due date.  I really hope that our baby boy will have gotten here by then. Dont get me wrong, i love my MIL and she s pretty cool for the most part, but regardless there is still that MIL/ Daughter in law awkwardness, not to mention she can be overbearing.  We live in a military town and there isnt very much to do around here unless your really into being outdoors.  That in itself wouldnt be a problem either EXCEPT i ve been put on bed rest and dont know what i can possibly do with her here for a week if our LO hasnt arrived yet.  i wouldnt feel so awkward but my husband is at work by 6am and isnt out till 4 pm so it will be a while that he s out of the house.  Perhaps im just being lame, but i ve never really been too social or much for being the hostess so its kinda weird.  I dunno... i guess i just feel some pressure to make sure she s somewhat entertained... any advice for me?       As a side note :   I kind of wish she would have just waited to come up as soon as i go into labor, but she is very stubborn and refused to not be here for the birth... only thing is... not sure if i'll even go into labor when she s here. For all i know our LO could be late... hmm.... dont know. I'm aware i cant expect everyone to be the same, but my parents were kind enough to just wait till i just go to CA with LO in late nov. .. Just a little stressed since my husband will be leaving on deployment the last week of Oct. and we re due the 17th.  For that reason i just wish he and i would be here to bond as just a family of three for the little time he ll have since he wont be back till March.  who knows...

MyBdayPresent

I know what you mean.  Even if someone says they won't be in the way I always feel pressure to make sure they're having an enjoyable time.

Is she very helpful or crafty?  My mom is flying in 4 days after my due date and she asked if I have any projects for her to work on.  I plan to have her help by making some freezer meals for after she leaves.  Also, she's a great seamstress and a friend offered to let me borrow her sewing machine while my mom is in town.  She loves making clothes and blankets for her grand babies.

Basically, keep her busy helping out.  You'll be full term and don't need to entertain anyone:)

LB1988

I'm a little confused about the timeline, is she staying for only that week or until the birth? Is she just driving? How long are your parents staying for?

MassageMomma2010

quit worrying about it. If she knows you at all, she'll understand you're not very social. Get some movies to watch, maybe some board games to pull out if things get boring. Other than that, stick to your daily routine and she can entertain herself.

You can always use the "I need to rest" excuse if she seems to be expecting more. But if she has any sense she's not going to expect you to put on a show and entertain her pregnant or with baby.

Best thing you can do is not stress and roll with the punches. GL!

paulinaramirez

LB1988:

I'm a little confused about the timeline, is she staying for only that week or until the birth? Is she just driving? How long are your parents staying for?

She ll be flying up here from the 14th through the 21st from Ca.  My parents on the other hand will just be staying in Ca until i go to them in late November or early December since i will be staying there until my husband gets back here to washington in March. so they re just willing to wait. 

daizypink

I'm in a very similar situation.  I'm not due until next Friday (Oct. 8), but my MIL is coming into town tomorrow and staying until next Wednesday.  I'm having my membranes stripped on Friday in the hopes that it will get labor started since my OB won't induce until 41 weeks (though he had originally said he would consider induction at 39 weeks - ugh!), but I'm really anxious about how I will keep her occupied for the 6 days if LO hasn't arrived yet.  My husband is deployed and won't be home until January, but luckily I have a 6-year-old daughter who can hopefully help me keep her busy.  Otherwise, it will be us sitting around waiting and I can't imagine anything more torturous than having to spend 6 days staring at each other waiting for something to happen.  Don't get me wrong - she's great and I love her, but I can't imagine the added pressure of "get her out now or she won't get to meet Grandma for a while" won't help me be at peace enough for my body to take on the challenge of childbirth.  What makes it even worse is knowing that if baby doesn't come while she's here, I'll be all on my own when the time comes to deliver LO because none of our other family is able to come visit right now.  

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed, and if I have any pearls of wisdom to share after my experience with MIL this week, I will be sure and pass them along to you! 

paulinaramirez

daizypink:

I'm in a very similar situation.  I'm not due until next Friday (Oct. 8), but my MIL is coming into town tomorrow and staying until next Wednesday.  I'm having my membranes stripped on Friday in the hopes that it will get labor started since my OB won't induce until 41 weeks (though he had originally said he would consider induction at 39 weeks - ugh!), but I'm really anxious about how I will keep her occupied for the 6 days if LO hasn't arrived yet.  My husband is deployed and won't be home until January, but luckily I have a 6-year-old daughter who can hopefully help me keep her busy.  Otherwise, it will be us sitting around waiting and I can't imagine anything more torturous than having to spend 6 days staring at each other waiting for something to happen.  Don't get me wrong - she's great and I love her, but I can't imagine the added pressure of "get her out now or she won't get to meet Grandma for a while" won't help me be at peace enough for my body to take on the challenge of childbirth.  What makes it even worse is knowing that if baby doesn't come while she's here, I'll be all on my own when the time comes to deliver LO because none of our other family is able to come visit right now.  

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed, and if I have any pearls of wisdom to share after my experience with MIL this week, I will be sure and pass them along to you! 

 

You 're like my message board doppleganger for the day! would love to know how it goes and some input from your experience . keep me updated if possible

daizypink

I definitely will!