New aunt wonders how often to see kiddos
And -- because you have no experience as a sibling, parent, or aunt -- you should fake it 'til you make it.
If your mother-in-law passes along a critique, you should listen respectfully, glean whatever lesson you can from it and then consider making some changes if you are able.
What you should not do is get defensive, or offer up excuses about how busy you are.
There is no "correct" pattern or way to quantify contact with nearby family members, although you should make every effort to attend special occasions: birthdays, religious or school milestones and holidays (Halloween is a great time to pop by and see the littles in their costumes). Also connect with these parents on social media.
Even if you don't see these family members very often, when you are with them you should lavish attention upon the child, show interest in the parents and follow up with a text or a call letting them know that their toddler is adorable/interesting/impressive/sweet/charming -- and/or loved exactly as they are.
Dear Amy: I've been in a relationship with my husband for the last 18 years.
We've been married for eight years.
We have both been unfaithful.
My husband has stated that he's not happy and doesn't want to be married anymore.
How do I show him that things are different now, and save my marriage?
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