Jordan Harbinger

I mean, imagine coming back and you find out, oh yeah, he was good.

We spanked him every single day a bunch of times and he's an anxious mess in the corner.

So of course he's not talking and yelling.

Yeah, exactly.

Exactly.

So as much as I hate that you might have to dig in here, I think your approach is largely the right one.

The most important thing is just not leaving your son alone with them.

I know that's going to be uncomfortable to enforce.

It's going to be hard to explain, but I just don't see how you could do that in good conscience.

Now, how much you need to explain and defend these boundaries to them, that's a separate question.

A lot of narcissism experts would probably say, don't explain yourself at all.

It's pointless.

Just set the boundary and enforce it.

And they're probably right.

But if your in-laws ask you, hey, why can't we hang out with the baby alone?

Or why don't you let us babysit?

You're going to have to say something.

You could lie or evade and hope they get the message or don't push.

You could say, I'm sorry, but we just don't feel comfortable right now leaving him alone and hope they drop it.

Or you could tell them, hey, sorry guys, but we clearly have different views on discipline and how to respond to the baby and that's making it impossible for us to leave him alone with you.