My ex mother in law also "imposed" her own expectations on me when I was pregnant. She'd had trouble breastfeeding, and found the thought of it distasteful anyway. So when I had a present, three days before the birth, of a set of bottles, sterilisers and formula milk I was very upset. She told me my "breasts were too big" and they'd never fit in the baby's mouth.

As it happened, I had no trouble feeding him... but the anxiety generated by her attempts to "help" was just awful. Again, a lot of behaviour is driven by the need to prove our own agendas. I have to be very careful that I don't do this myself... it's an inbuilt human thing I suppose, and it's hard to see when we do it. I hope I'm getting better.