Dear Abby: Mom’s meddling adds stress to the arrival of first baby

Jeanne Phillips

DEAR ABBY: How do you think people feel about receiving greeting cards that have a charity organization’s name and address on the back of the card? – SENDER OF GREETINGS IN VIRGINIA

DEAR SENDER: Speaking for myself, when I receive a card from someone, I am far more pleased that the person thought of me than how much was spent on the card. It’s the thought that counts, remember?

DEAR ABBY: I am in my 20s, married and seven months pregnant. My problem is my overbearing and manipulative mother. She guilt-trips me, uses social media to shame me and has tried to harm herself and blame me for it, saying I caused it because I’m a horrible daughter.

Now that I am expecting my first child, she’s trying to control everything. All the boundaries I set are being pushed and crossed. This is causing a lot of stress for me. What can I do to get free of my crazy, overbearing mother?! – NEEDS FREEDOM IN SOUTH CAROLINA

DEAR NEEDS FREEDOM: Recognize that as an adult, YOU are now in control. Stress isn’t good for you or your baby at a time like this. As a mother, your first responsibility will be to your little one.