'She's playing the popularity contest': Father stands up to mother-in-law after she attempts to undermine him while babysitting his kids, mom gets involved, leading to a family dispute

Every adult who wishes to become a parent likes to think that they are going to be the best parents in the world. They will use every tool they have been given, every little example their own parents set for them, and every trick in the parenting book, all to become the best possible parent ever.

At least until their in-laws get into the picture.

While your in-laws managed to parent the person you decided to spend the rest of your life with, that doesn't necessarily mean you think they were the best parents in the world. Actually, most people I've talked to are surprised their partners turned out to be these amazing people considering the parents they've got (at least, that's what crosses my mind every time I visit my in-laws).

However, regardless of what you think of your in-laws' parenting, nothing can possibly stop them from getting involved in your kids' lives. After all, they are the grandparents. All you can do is try to set some ground rules, but as the story below shows, even that can prove to be an impossible task.

The father in the story below was trying to set some ground rules with his mother-in-law after she attempted to undermine him in front of the kids. However, dear MIL did not enjoy the father's criticism, which she took very much to heart.
Keep scrolling to read the full story. After you are done, check out this story of a woman who kicked out her husband's family from dinner.
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"AITA for telling my MIL to never undermine me in front of my children?"

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