Design for Life: I need to Iet my mother know how I feel about her constant criticism

This week, Fiona Brennan advises a reader on how to set healthy boundaries when her mother comes to visit her and her family at Christmas

No sooner has my mother arrived for Christmas than she’s telling us what we’re doing wrong, whether it’s the decorations or the meal – or even the children. Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Dear Expert,

My mother is coming to stay with us for Christmas. She has a habit of criticising everything and it's particularly bad at this time of year. No sooner has she arrived than she’s telling us what we’re doing wrong, whether it’s the decorations or the meal – sometimes she has even been dismissive of the children. My husband says that he’s not going to take it for another Christmas and if the same ...