"She retired right around the time we had our first child, and while she was always very independent, she's been a lot more "needy" for lack of a better word and looking for something to fill her time since then. We live across the country from her, but she comes to stay with us whenever she can. These visits last for two-to-five weeks at a time."
"Meanwhile, my parents don't get to see us nearly as much. Traveling is harder for them, and they can't stay for long periods. It's also a lot more expensive for them since they always have to get a hotel or short-term apartment rental in our high cost-of-living city since our guest room is very small. It's become an uneven situation where my mother-in-law is present for almost every holiday and major moment."
A long-widowed mother-in-law retired around the first child's arrival and has become more needy, seeking ways to fill her time. She lives across the country but visits frequently for two-to-five weeks, staying with the family. The mother-in-law's presence dominates holidays and major moments, while the child's other grandparents face travel, lodging, and stay-length constraints. The unequal distribution of grandparent time is causing emotional distress about the child's connection to the other grandparents. Attempts to raise the imbalance with the husband revealed different perspectives on logistics and fairness. The person is currently pregnant.
Read at Slate Magazine
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