Tag Archives: mother-in-law
Mothers-in-Law Step Back
Our focus on the complex role of mother-in-law draws to a close today. We want to leave you with some more suggestions to keep in mind as you work on taking a step back – and taking lots of deep breaths as you do. Change is never easy but it may be especially difficult in this relationship given the complicated emotions and tensions that are percolating just below the surface. As issues boil up, everyone is affected – you, your grown children, their partners, your own spouse. While you can’t … Continue reading
Mothers-in-Law Change
Another reader of Nourishing Relationships has commented about how difficult the role of mother-in-law is: “As the mother of sons who adored bringing them up, I never realized until they married what difficult issues I’d face. I foolishly thought we would just widen our wonderful circle and they, my daughters-in-law, would join in the dance. I forgot, they had mothers and did not want another one! There’s also the cultural piece, which takes a great deal of work and understanding when two cultures are involved. It is a real challenge, … Continue reading
Posted in extended family, your self
Tagged boomer couples, daughter-in-law, DIL, family in flux, fighting fair, HerMentorCenter.com, MIL, mother-in-law, son-in-law
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Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, with its sharp, blade-like leaves, has been described as “toxic.” That is, when it’s not being called by its other name, the Snake Plant. Wow, looks the plant world doesn’t have a very good view of us mothers-in-law! But we MILs know that most of the time we don’t use our words to cut – we work hard to “hold our tongues” and defuse the situation. That’s not always easy to do. We often hear from women who want to improve their relationships with daughters-in-law, but don’t know … Continue reading
Posted in extended family, your self
Tagged conflict, daughter-in-law, DIL, family in flux, HerMentorCenter.com, identity, MIL, mother-in-law, mother-in-law's tongue, role changes, son-in-law, tools
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Mothers-in-Law Speak Up
We continue our series on your emerging role as a mother-in-law and questions you have about how to nourish your relationships with your children-in-law. Our readers commenting on the virtual book tour we hosted last week with Dr. Susan Lieberman found her words empowering as they set new directions in their relationships with their sons- and daughters-in-law. Janet had been struggling with her in-law relationships for years and now had some new ideas about how to work on them; Sandy recognized that she could only change her behavior, not that … Continue reading
