Dear Annie: My husband, “Jake,” and I have been married for eight years. We have a 5-year-old son, “Caleb.” For the most part, we have a solid marriage, but there’s one issue that keeps coming up -- his mother, “Linda.”

DEAR ANNIE: My husband, “Jake,” and I have been married for eight years. We have a 5-year-old son, “Caleb.” For the most part, we have a solid marriage, but there’s one issue that keeps coming up -- his mother, “Linda.”

She stops by unannounced at least twice a week, criticizes my parenting (“You should really be making his lunches from scratch”) and overstays her welcome. Last month, she gave Caleb ice cream right before bed,

In today's Dear Annie column, Annie Lane offers advice to a reader on setting boundaries with her mother-in-law.

When I said something, she laughed and told me to “lighten up.” I’ve told Jake how much this bothers me, but he avoids conflict. He says, “That’s just how she is,” and tells me to let it go. But I can’t keep letting it go;

We have a 5-year-old son, “Caleb.” For the most part, we have a solid marriage, but there’s one issue that keeps coming up — his mother, “Linda.” Linda has always been a little overbearing, but ever since Caleb was born,