My stepmother claims to be a retired nurse and gives me the worst motherhood advice

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I had a baby around the time my father remarried. I didn’t know my new stepmother very well when she started giving me advice on parenting. The problem is that her beliefs don’t align with mine and also conflict with advice from the CDC or the American Academy of Pediatrics. For example, she insists that breastfeeding stunts a baby’s growth (she’s fine with that), that babies should be put to bed face down (dangerous), and that keeping a baby in a car seat is just as good as a car seat (?!). I do my best to smile, nod, and go about my business, but she’s very pushy and keeps saying she’s a nurse so she knows what she’s talking about.

After hearing about that nursing experience too many times, I asked her son about it and it turned out she had earned a nursing degree. assistant degree by correspondence and failed twice before narrowly passing. She never worked as a nurse.

Being direct with her hasn’t helped. Talking to Dad hasn’t helped (they’re newlyweds). Running away doesn’t help — she follows me. What else can I do but keep her out of my house (or fight her, which would be effective, but not the way I want)? — OPPOSITION IN OHIO

Dear opponents, Since daddy refuses to accept that his bride has misrepresented herself, pray that he stays healthy and does not give her power of attorney for health care. As for her unwanted and incorrect advice about childcare, listen, smile sweetly and exercise your option as a mother to not follow it. Continue breastfeeding, put your little one in the crib as instructed by reliable sources and never, everlet her hold the baby while she is in the car. It is against the law and could be deadly.

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to my husband, “Mark”, for 13 years. In that time I have come to realize that marrying him was a mistake. His parents did not have a healthy marriage and I know he does not know what love is. His father traveled a lot for work and kept a mistress on the side. My mother-in-law stayed in the marriage anyway.

Mark is very self-centered. I snore. When I do, my husband wakes me up with a loud noise, holding my nose, or shaking me. He says he can’t sleep when I snore. I suggested he use earplugs, like he does when he listens to music. His ex-wife also said it was hard to marry him. I’m 59 and confident enough to be on my own. What do you think? — READY FOR CHANGE IN MICHIGAN

Dear reader: Since you have felt like it was a mistake from the beginning of your 13 year marriage, I think it is time to discuss this with an attorney who can explain what a divorce would mean for your financial future. Mark’s ex-wife may have been on the right track when she left.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, aka Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at http://www.DearAbby.com or PO Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.