The complex dynamics between in-laws are a common experience that transcends gender boundaries. Whether you're a man or a woman, in-laws can evoke a wide range of emotions. Despite their well-intentioned gestures, they may come across as peculiar, impolite, or even irritating. However, during challenging times, they can unexpectedly become your greatest allies. This unpredictable rollercoaster of love and frustration with your in-laws can leave you feeling bewildered. If you describe your mother-in-law as unyielding, your spouse might feel like they have no say in a household seemingly controlled by your mother and yourself. In hindsight, it's easy to see that many of the issues that caused tension with your in-laws were ultimately trivial and unnecessary. Here are a few instances to illustrate this point:
# Being the big-mouth womanMother-in-law: When it comes to containing her enthusiasm, she's absolutely incapable of it. So, if your mother-in-law discovered your pregnancy and left a voicemail on your answering machine, offering her congratulations for all to hear when you hadn't planned to share the news yet, you'll be taken aback.
Daughter-in-law: Well, she not only possesses the art of handling such situations but also knows how to respond in kind. She will inform everyone who listened to the answering machine message that her mother-in-law is experiencing a senior moment or has confused you with her other daughter-in-law, or perhaps even someone else entirely.
# Who's the better cookMothers-in-law: She takes immense pride in believing she's the ultimate culinary expert. She'll go to great lengths to make you question your knowledge of gourmet meals. Every evening, she gives you a call, inquiring about your dinner plans and boasting about her own cooking endeavors. She won't let it go if you happen to mention that you're having takeout.
Daughters-in-law: She enjoys showcasing the recipes she inherited from her own mother. Of course, she would respond by inviting her mother-in-law to give them a try.
# Who knows it betterMothers-in-law: She firmly believes she possesses all the worldly wisdom. So, when you offer advice to your child, she's quick to express her disagreement. For instance, if your son approaches you with aspirations of becoming a professional soccer player when he grows up, and you encourage him by saying he can achieve it with determination, your mom-in-law will promptly interject with a differing opinion.
Daughters-in-law: She tends to value advice from sources other than her mother-in-law, such as her own parents or friends. She's not one to mince words and will readily say NO!
# Having access to your homeMothers-in-law: She views your house as a place she can enter at any time. Especially with a spare set of keys to your home, she feels entitled to drop by without notice.
Daughters-in-law: She visits her mother-in-law's residence unannounced whenever she needs to leave her child there for a while. This means the mother-in-law has no option but to care for her beloved grandchildren, even if she had other priorities for the day.
# Calling your husband a different nameMothers-in-law: She might have a plethora of endearing nicknames for her son. However, if your mother unintentionally called your husband by a different name during their first encounter, it could leave everyone quite bewildered. Could she have been seeing other men? Even as time passes and the confusion settles, this mix-up may continue to linger for years.
Daughters-in-law: In fact, she would come up with a nickname for her husband that might leave her mother-in-law taken aback. These names could range from affectionate and adorable to occasionally stemming from frustration – yes, they could carry various meanings!
# The social media intruderMothers-in-law: How did she even gain access to your account? If the password was a family secret, it might explain her ability to log in, but being there and reading everything is certainly not an admirable action. Wasn't she determined to snoop into your account at some point?
Daughters-in-law: She doesn't need to be a computer whiz. However, she can effortlessly stumble upon her mother-in-law's social media page if she happens to forget to log out of it.
# Buying cheap and gifting them refurbishedMothers-in-law: If you felt that the abundance of linens she presented to you was overly generous, here's a small revelation. She, in fact, purchased numerous plain white sheets during a sale and dyed them before gifting them to you.
Daughters-in-law: She takes a more straightforward approach - she acquires items from a thrift store and wraps them up to appear brand new. And let's not forget those sporadic sale events when shopkeepers are eager to clear out inventory for a year-end sale!
# Who is the trendiestMothers-in-law: She enjoys putting on a facade of being all-knowing but can sometimes be quite old-fashioned! Just invent a rapper's name, and she'll claim to be a big fan of their music. It's not just that; she also likes to keep up with your fashion sense. You'll be fine as long as she doesn't go overboard.
Daughters-in-law: She appreciates the Audrey Hepburn style, but when her mother-in-law dons it, she considers it passé!
# She will book her tickets with youMothers-in-law: When you and your husband plan to go somewhere, she'll ensure that she secures her tickets as well. What's even more challenging is that her son will agree to handle the booking for her.
Daughters-in-law: She'll practically pressure her husband not to invite her mother-in-law along, leaving the husband in a difficult dilemma.
# The talent judgeMothers-in-law: She'll either draw comparisons between your abilities and those of other women or push you to become proficient in something entirely new, even if you had no prior experience. Don't be astonished if you find yourself pursuing a skill simply to impress your mother-in-law.
Daughters-in-law: She tends to criticize her mother-in-law for the talents she lacks, especially when it comes to achieving flawless makeup!
# Granny's featuresMothers-in-law: She takes delight in announcing to everyone that your child has inherited her characteristics, even if that's not the case.
Daughters-in-law: She prefers to point out the similarities between her children and her own parents or her husband's side of the family. She's not inclined to acknowledge any resemblance to her mother-in-law.