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"What are you doing? You are not going to teach your children at home are you? Why don't you let a professional do that?"
These were the words of my father-in-law when we decided that the best thing for our children was to home-school them. It was a hard decision and for the most part it has paid off marvelously, however, the decision was ours.
After that phone call my in-laws were banned from contact with us for a few months. My husband is a positive, easy-going guy but when it comes to his own wife and children he has never welcomed intrusion of any kind; he firmly but politely puts up the boundaries.

We have a great relationship with his parents now, even though they have not agreed with a lot of our decisions. We, just, think differently then they do and believe that there is more then one way of doing things.
Healthy boundaries are very important when dealing with extended family. Friends and family should never interfere with your home and the way you raise your children. If advice is asked for, that is a different matter but all decisions regarding your children ultimately rest on your shoulders because you are the parent.
Your parents and in-laws had their opportunity to parent and now it is your turn. Also, I believe that each child is different and therefore must be parented differently.

Learn more about this author, Susan Harris.
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