Advice on how to deal with know-it-all family members re: impending baby?

We have family (husband's cousin/his wife/their kids) coming to stay with us soon and I already know I'm going to struggle. We are expecting our first child in the new year while they have two toddlers. The dynamic is very much "we are already parents so we know exactly what you're going to need to do and we are happy to tell you that our method is the only method. You opinion is invalid as you don't have children yet".

I am horrible at graciously accepting unsolicited advice from family members/ILs. I know this.

Edited to add TL;DR: What can I say to politely counter a week's worth of unsolicited advice from people with a very different lifestyle and preferences to ours regarding our unborn child?

I also know that their advice can come from a caring place but it sometimes also feels tinged with condescension and "you have no idea what you're getting into" eye rolling tones (doesn't matter what the topic is - even ones in which we are expert - this is a long standing issue).

Note: I'm not completely new to infants/children. My brother is a decade younger than I am - until I left for school when he was eight, I was the live-in au pair for my shift-working mother. I know how to keep an infant/toddler/child alive. I also have a superficial medical background.

As I will be the one spending the majority of the time with our guests, without my husband to act as my gentle buffer, I could really use some lines/tips on how to politely, and in a non-confrontational way, acknowledge their comment without conceding they are all-knowing about my life/relationship/unborn child.

As examples, I can see triggers surrounding:

  • our house and it's fitness/unfitness for children (i.e. we have nice things, some of which are at low levels like guitars on stands)

  • our decision to not genderbomb our child based on their sex (they did pinkpinkpink and don't get why we don't want that for our kid - I have had to deal with repeated offers to take their hand-me-downs, none of which I would like and are also in ANOTHER COUNTRY)

  • basically anything about our lifestyle that runs contrary to having children the way they have done it (i.e. we live in an urban area, go to gigs, are involved in volunteer work, maintain active lifestyles, hobbies and interests etc. while they have retreated to a suburb and made their children their world - their choice, but not how we see ourselves)

  • buying items as a way to be a better parent (i.e. a baby food maker is the ONLY way to make baby food etc. I don't have room for/want to fill my house with stuff)

I realise nothing I'm saying here is new and this dynamic plays itself out daily for many of us. Suggestions for coping welcome (and graciously accepted!).

Posted Oct 28, 2017, 9:16 AM UTC · edited

1832
Loading comments…