My in-laws never pay their way and it drives me mad. How can I break this habit?
Dear Annalisa, Both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are ridiculously mean when it comes to others. They don’t hesitate to buy things for themselves, but they take…
I’ve never stood up to my domineering in-laws. Is it too late to learn?
Dear Annalisa, I am a 48-year-old woman, and it recently occurred to me, like a bolt of lightning, that I am not able to be assertive. I…
Why is my mother-in-law still so angry about her ex’s affair?
Dear Annalisa, My husband is one of four, and they all have children of their own. His parents divorced when he was young after his father had a long-standing affair…
The 11 step guide to being a good guest. The Guardian.
Being a good guest starts before you arrive. Reply to any invitation as promptly as you can. (If you can’t accept, say so early.) The answer to…
My fiance’s sister is jealous and talks about me behind my back. The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa I met my fiance on a blind date about five years ago – we moved in together after a year of dating, bought a…
My son-in-law insulted my son’s partner and it has caused a family rift. The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa Our daughter, son-in-law (SiL) and granddaughter, visited us last year, at the same time as our son and his partner and another couple. When…
How can I help my adult son cope better with chaotic meal and bedtimes? The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa I am writing after returning from a week’s holiday with my son, his partner and their two children, who are both under five. I…
My parents-in-law have gone back on a promise to give us their house. The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa We are a lovely and mostly happy family of four renting a smallish two-bed flat with no garden in London. Last summer we were…
Things are tense with my in-laws but my husband won’t stick up for me. The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa My husband is southern-European and our parents live abroad. Shortly after our eldest was born, my mother-in-law attacked me verbally about how I was…
Annalisa Barbieri 