Dear Abby: Late-night visits from mom cause family stress
A person is struggling with their mother visiting every evening, causing tension in their marriage and disrupting their routine.
Liam Carter 
Dear Abby: A reader is reaching their breaking point as their mother maintains an unyielding 7:30 p.m. nightly visit routine. Despite the reader needing to rise at 5:30 a.m. for work and managing a busy schedule transporting two children from extracurricular practices, the mother remains oblivious to every hint dropped. This nightly intrusion is creating significant friction within the reader's marriage, leading to a plea for guidance on how to reclaim their family time.
Finding a Balance
— At Wits’ End
Dear At Wits’ End: Since subtle hints have failed to resolve the issue, it is time to shift your approach. You and your partner need to present a united front by having a direct conversation with your mother together. It is essential to set firm, realistic boundaries—perhaps limiting visits to a couple of days a week—and clearly defining the duration of each stop. When the allotted time concludes, be prepared to walk her to the door.
It is possible your mother’s persistence stems from a lack of outside interests. If she is struggling to fill her time, consider researching local groups or activities for seniors to help her find engagement outside of your household. Expanding her social circle could be the key to improving her quality of life while restoring peace and routine to your home.
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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
