Listening

Emily is expecting her second baby and was on bed rest for a while. During that time, her mother-in-law, Mrs. Brown, started helping by doing the laundry. At first, Emily appreciated the help. But now, Mrs. Brown washes the clothes every time she visits, even though Emily has asked her not to. Emily is very particular about how she does her laundry and doesn’t like clothes being put in the wrong place. She would rather Mrs. Brown spend time with the kids instead of folding socks. This isn’t the only issue. Mrs. Brown also rearranges Emily’s dishes and often ignores instructions. She is very strong-willed and sometimes doesn’t respect how Emily and her husband raise their children. Emily wonders how to politely tell her mother-in-law that her help is not needed—without causing hurt feelings.