Dear Dáithí: My mother-in-law refuses to help with our new baby — she won't even throw a wash on

At the moment, your mother-in-law is semi-retired and is very fit and active, and by the sounds of it, she wants to stay like this and let nothing get in the way.

My mother-in-law has told us that she will not be available for any sort of childcare. She says she has seen friends of hers disappear into rearing a second generation, and that is not the path she wants to walk. I respect that, but I feel angry and rejected.

Dear Dáithí,  

My partner was raised by a single mother. She and I get along well; I have massive respect for her. She raised a wonderful son and worked hard at her career.