We all know that family dynamics can be challenging. Sometimes, we find ways to overcome these hurdles, but there are instances where these issues linger for quite some time.

Such is the case for a young mother who has been facing some difficulties with her own mother. While she is grateful for the childcare help, it’s the rules or lack thereof that have become the crux of the issue.

This situation sits in a gray area that many families might find familiar, even if the specifics are different. Read on to see if you think she is overreacting or not.

Her daughter, DD, is nearing 3 years old. The young mother is trying to teach her daughter that her body belongs to her and that she can say no to hugs and kisses if she doesn’t want them. However, her own mother, the child’s grandmother, is not helping in this regard.

The grandmother is incredibly helpful with childcare, which is deeply appreciated. But whenever DD refuses a kiss or cuddle, the grandmother dismisses her protests, saying, ‘don’t be silly, of course you can hug your nanny,’ and goes ahead with the kiss anyway.

The young mother has tried to talk to her mother about respecting DD’s boundaries, but the grandmother thinks she’s being unreasonable. According to her, a 3-year-old doesn’t know what she wants, and family members should always be entitled to hugs and kisses.

Now, the young mother is seeking opinions from others. She wants her daughter to grow up feeling that she has some control over her own body. If it turns out that others also think she is not overreacting, she plans to show this to her mother to prove it’s not just her opinion.

What do you think? Is she being ridiculous, or is it important to instill a sense of bodily autonomy in her young daughter?