I have a lovely mother-in-law who helps us all the time, especially financially. As a widow and the only wife, she inherited most of her husband’s property though provisions were also made for the two children of the family. My husband is the eldest and his sister lives abroad. Because my mother-in-law retired a few years ago, she’s always around our place almost every day! She even grumbles of being neglected whenever my mum comes to visit, which isn’t often.

We got married four years ago and a second child is on the way. In spite of my full-time job, this woman still pops in bringing with her pots of stews and presents we don’t really need. I’ve hinted we needed more privacy but I might as well be talking to a wall. My husband won’t take my side in insisting she needs to back off, especially when the new baby arrives and I could be lumbered with her.

I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but if she goes on the way she now does, I’ll pack up my bags when the baby’s here and go and stay with my mum!