Dear Amy: My wife and I are going to have a baby in two months. We are very excited.
My mother is very excited, too. This will be her first grandchild.
The other day my mother brought up the idea of bringing her dog with her into the delivery room while my wife gives birth.
We all love this dog (and my mom), but this seems bonkers to me. She says it will be great for the newborn baby to get used to the dog and that the dog will be like an “emotional support animal” for all of us.
My wife hates this idea, but I’m not sure how to respond to my mother.
We agreed to ask you for ideas of what to say.
– Worried Future Dad
Dear Worried: Reword this sentiment: “Hell to the no,” and take it from there.
The hospital will not allow a dog in the delivery room.
And you should not allow your mother in the delivery room, either.
Your child’s birth should be shared by you and your wife as a private and intimate event.
You are going to need a lot of practice in establishing healthy boundaries with your mother, and this is the place to start.
Dear Amy: Your reply to “Grasping,” the parent concerned about how they will be able to get along with their daughter’s future in-laws – who don’t speak English – left out the obvious answer: Hand-held translation (old-fashioned and modern)!
When our son married a lovely Brazilian woman 22 years ago, we and her parents carried around small English-Portuguese dictionaries whenever we were together. Now, translation is in our phones, which are omnipresent.
– Hold On, Let Me Look That Up
Dear Hold On: Absolutely. “Obrigada!”
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
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