This personal letter to Dear Abby explores the author's conflicting feelings about her friend's unconventional parenting practices and her strained relationship with her mother, particularly regarding the upcoming birth.
I'm struggling with a tricky situation involving my friend Cindra and her parenting choices. Cindra and I have children around the same age, but our views on raising them differ significantly. Her children are homeschooled and lack independence. From infancy, Cindra has allowed her children, now aged 11 and 9, to co-sleep with her and her husband. While I care for Cindra's children, I'm concerned about their well-being, particularly as her daughter is entering puberty.
I believe co-sleeping at this age is inappropriate. I've experienced my fair share of difficulties with Cindra in the past, having acted as her therapist during her childhood due to her co-dependency. I've thankfully processed a lot of the trauma through therapy and built a healthy, loving family of my own. We actively avoid spending time with Cindra after 3 p.m. to protect our children from her cruelty and the influence of her often intoxicated and abusive behavior.I'm currently pregnant and navigating another challenging situation with my mother. She's always yearned to be present during childbirth, but I prefer she not be in the delivery room. I find her presence overwhelming, especially when she's drinking, as she tends to make everything about herself, create drama, and emotionally distress me. I'd rather not contend with her narcissism during such a sensitive and vulnerable time. My godmother, who couldn't have children of her own, wants to be present during the birth, and I would love for her to be there. We have a strong bond and get along exceptionally well. I'm leaning towards prioritizing her emotional support over my mother's wishes
Co-Sleeping Parenting Family Dynamics Mother-Daughter Relationship Pregnancy
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