Help! My Helicopter Parents Keep Barging Into My Apartment Without Permission.

Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column. I find myself pestered with questions about if I’ve had something or another done yet, being told “you need to get XYZ done by a certain date,” or that my parents are coming over to help me unpack, do chores, etc. The locks need to be changed or I’m challenging my lease.” Dear Prudence, My husband and I are on a three-day speaking strike—that is, he isn’t speaking to me. And not just when it comes to scheduling or logistics; I might say something on a personal note like, “I don’t talk to my sister much” and he’ll take that as an opportunity to tell me not only that he’s really close with his sister, but also the nature of their relationship, some jokes and experiences they’ve shared, several facts about her … it is absolutely exhausting and decidedly NOT fun for this introvert who really values conversational and relational balance. Give Prudie a Hand in “We’re Prudence” Sometimes even Prudence needs a little help.