In one embodiment, a method includes a mesh point receiving mesh advertisement messages from advertising mesh points of a wireless mesh network having a mesh portal with a wired connection to a wired network. Each mesh advertisement message specifies a corresponding metric for reaching the mesh portal and has a corresponding signal strength indicator. An ordered group of parent access points, ordered based on the respective metrics, is generated from among the advertising mesh points, starting with a first parent access point having a corresponding optimum metric for reaching the mesh portal and independent of the corresponding signal strength indicator. A registration message is sent to each of the parent access points identifying a corresponding specified priority based on a corresponding position in the ordered group, for use by the corresponding parent access point in selecting a minimum interframe spacing for forwarding a wireless packet received from the mesh point.