Preparing for a first baby is supposed to be an exciting time, but it can also make you suddenly realize just how limited your space, money, energy, and privacy really are. My partner and I are expecting our first child, and because we live abroad in a two-bedroom apartment, we are already trying to make the most of every corner of our home. The second bedroom, which used to be an office and storage space, is gradually becoming our baby’s nursery.
We know our families will want to visit once the baby arrives, but because we simply don’t have enough space for overnight guests, the obvious solution has always been for them to stay in a nearby hotel or Airbnb. My parents are completely fine with that arrangement. The problem started when my partner began repeatedly suggesting that we buy a bed for the nursery so that his mother could stay with us. I understand that she would be traveling alone and that accommodation would cost her more, but I’m struggling to understand why preparing a nursery for our baby suddenly has to involve creating a guest room too.
My Partner And I Are Expecting Our First Child While Living Abroad In A Small Two-Bedroom Apartment Far Away From Both Sides Of Our Family
Because We Live In A Small Apartment, We Have Always Assumed That Visiting Family Members Would Stay In Nearby Hotels Or Airbnbs Instead Of In Our Home
Since My Mother-In-Law Would Most Likely Be Traveling Alone, My Partner Seems Concerned About The Extra Cost Of Accommodation, Even Though She Is Financially Comfortable
More Importantly, I Don’t Believe A Nursery Can Realistically Function As A Guest Room Without Constantly Disrupting The Baby’s Routine And Our Lives As New Parents
I Even Suggested A Compromise By Replacing Our Sofa With A Sofa Bed, But Right Now We Are Preparing For A Baby And Have Many Other Expenses To Think About
Even My Own Mother Has Started Making Jokes That I Simply Don’t Want My Mother-In-Law Around, Which Feels Unfair And Completely Misses The Point
Right Now My Main Focus Is Preparing For My Child, Staying Healthy During Pregnancy, And Creating A Calm Environment For Our Family
Time to see how Reddit weighs in on this drama.
The more this conversation continues, the more I feel like the disagreement isn’t really about a bed or even about where my mother-in-law sleeps. It’s about what we believe our home should prioritize during a major transition in our lives. We are about to become first-time parents; we live in a relatively small apartment, and the room in question is already being prepared specifically for our baby. I don’t want to fill that space with furniture for occasional guests when we will soon be dealing with sleepless nights, feeding schedules, diaper changes, and everything else that comes with caring for a newborn. I’m also not against my mother-in-law visiting.
I want her to meet and spend time with her grandchild. I simply think that staying in a nearby hotel or Airbnb is a reasonable solution, especially because she can comfortably afford it. What bothers me most is feeling as though I’m being portrayed as someone who doesn’t want her around simply because I don’t want to sacrifice our bedroom, nursery, living space, and comfort to accommodate her. I’m trying to prepare for my baby, not run a guesthouse, and I’m wondering whether that makes me unreasonable.
