How to Get Along with Your Husband's Relatives on the Dacha

You can set boundaries with neighbors. Noisy visits from relatives or the need to share your own territory for a long time can unsettle some people. Is this a familiar situation? We have solutions.

First of all — children

It's useless to explain to young children, especially toddlers, that there are boundaries of personal space, privacy, and the right to solitude. Besides, they need supervision.

Luckily, there's water, sand, and other joys in the countryside that city kids don’t have access to — which can be more valuable than purchased toys.

Give kids play areas where they have plenty of space. Toddlers love building huts from blankets and throws: provide the frame and help them drive stakes into the ground. Older kids will enjoy making hammocks, kites, fishing nets, or fishing rods. Teenagers can help you lay out mosaic tiles for garden paths. They might also be interested in setting up an outdoor corner for selfies.

Oh, these men

It's great if some habits of brothers-in-law and in-laws bring benefits to others. But if not yet, it can be arranged. Men can do a lot: hint that they have many opportunities to enjoy themselves in the barbecue area, garage, or workshop.

Sometimes it brings real benefits: set up a summer kitchen or even build a pizza oven, make furniture by hand. Chop firewood in the end.

Favorite mother-in-law

Having two housekeepers in one home is complicated. But it’s possible if you accept help gratefully and channel energy into peaceful channels. Study the habits and inclinations of your husband’s mother. Does she like working in the garden? Let her handle salad and greens for the common table. Does she have a natural talent for teaching? She can distract children. Is she a culinary genius? Perfect — there will be enough pies, and you just need to provide drinks and music.

Organize the Space

In the garden, around the house, and inside it, there are many ways to separate groups of people so that no one suffers from noise and each can live in their own rhythm.

It’s great if the veranda or terrace encircles the house all around. Then different zones of it can serve as an outdoor living room and a breakfast nook. Perhaps you're in the stage of building or renovating your home, planning various entrances? That’s wise.

In other cases, landscaping and noise insulation solutions help. As the saying goes, a little distance makes the heart feel calm.

Want to have barbecues in comfort?

We tell you how to set up a cozy spot for gatherings on the dacha

Find a Refuge

Each of us needs moments (or hours) of silence and peace. It’s important to be honest and open about it, set rules, and define boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed.

“I’m in the cabin” is a solution for everyone — from little ones to adults. A sign that says “Do Not Disturb” can be a garden hat on the door handle, an aromatic candle, or a basket of knitting.

Escape the hustle in a studio converted from a shed or a greenhouse. Designate a study in the attic or under the stairs. Provide a nook with a bed and a quiet resting spot in the shade. A woven “nest” or a treehouse — solutions exist for every taste.