“How much longer do you plan on being pregnant for?” my mother-in-law asked me with a smirk.

Are you running a baby-making business now? How many little ones do you plan on having? My mother-in-law, Margaret, asked me with one of her signature sarcastic smirks.

Good afternoon to you as well! Margaret, could you please tone down the snide remarks? James mentioned were expecting, and thats upset you? I replied as politely as I could manage.

Of course Im upset! After your third child, I begged you to stop. But you pay no mind to a woman with more sense! I gave you a box of condoms for Christmas, hoping youd finally wise up, and youre still at it! she grumbled.

Ill never forget that Christmas shed handed me a huge box of condoms as if she was giving out Christmas crackers, making her hint loud and clear. It was also our eldests birthday, so the timing made it even more awkward. Margaret was practically shouting, Enoughs enough!

We heard her, but as I replied, keeping my voice steady: You cant fight nature.

Oh, you think youre being witty? Then handle your brood on your own, Im not lifting a finger to help you again… she scoffed.

Not that you really have… I started, struggling to finish before she hung up on me.

Tossing the phone onto the bed, I smiled to myself, gently touching my perfectly flat stomach. James and I were expecting our fourth, and Margaret was absolutely fuming over it. I simply couldnt fathom her agitation.

The oddest part is, Margaret has never once volunteered to mind the grandchildren or helped out financially. She makes a show of visiting perhaps once a month tops and only brings gifts for birthdays or Christmas. Of course, that always bothered me, but I kept quiet. She certainly isnt hard up for money; buying her grandchildren some sweets wouldnt hurt, but it just never occurred to her. I keep my complaints bottled up, not even mentioning it to James. My children are always well-dressed and well-fed, and thats what matters.

James brings in a solid wage, and I do my bit working from home. Now that my small venture is taking off, Ive even hired a nanny so the little ones dont distract me. She takes them out in the park and keeps them busy while I work.

We really do have a lovely family, but Margarets constant criticism puts a dampener on our happiness. Shes never warmed to me, and each new arrival has only added to her irritation.

When our third daughter was on the way, she flat out told me to end the pregnancy. Eventually, she warmed up to the little one, but just as peace was settling in, life surprised us with a fourth. We hadnt exactly planned it, but we took it as fate and decided to embrace it wholeheartedly.

Needless to say, the happy news wasnt met with much joy by Margaret. I cant help but suspect shes only worried James will stop sending her money. James is always helping her financially, so shes on edge that another child will mean less for her. When the fourth baby comes, our expenses will go up, and perhaps her little gift shop will be no more.

I dont mind James helping his mum, so long as our children have what they need. So far, hes been kind paid for her dental work, taken her on seaside holidays, even funded a bit of decorating in her flat.

If Im right and shes fretting over her bank balance, another grandchild isnt going to help. Her constant lectures and complaints only serve to wind me up; its hardly good for me or the baby.

Regardless, nothing she says will change our minds were absolutely having this baby. It just leaves a single question lingering in my head: does a mother-in-law have the right to tell a couple how many children theyre allowed to have?

As I sit and reflect on the day, I realise this: family should be about support, not control. In the end, happiness is making choices that are right for ourselves not for anyone elses approval.