Dealing with Your Mother-in-Law

Mother-in-law or Monster-in-law? I'm sure you will choose the latter...Well I cannot blame you because I was holding the same choice not until quite recently...I know they are just intolerable, they meddle with everything, they want things done their way, they don't give you chance to do what you think is right because for them, they are always right. Many a husband and wife relationships have suffered because of their influence. Sometimes they are even the cause of the break up and worse, divorce between the husband and wife...I know some friends who are good examples of what I was talking about. I'm no exception to the rule when it comes to experiencing the headaches trying to deal with mine. It was a tough life to spend several months with her under the same roof, every bit of peace and sanity in the house collapsed, she was everywhere, almost seeming to destroy everything on her path...This was my perspective though...How about hers? We can fill up a whole library of words to describe them the way we see...However let us be fair enough to see their side of the story also. After all, in their own mind is also a noble task of trying to show their love and protection for the ones they love, that is their son (your husband), and his offsprings..."But I love my husband and children also", so you say, "Can't I have the say in doing things I know will be better for everyone?" I used to ask the same question also...I tried hard, really hard to go against her wills but to no avail. The harder I tried, the more problems encountered. All the effort is leading to nowhere. But as we go along life's road, we get more experiences that help us to mature. I realized later on instead of flowing against, try flowing with the current...so they say "if you can't beat them, join them"...Easier said than done, you say, but if you want things to work between you and her, be ready to compromise something from your side also, I know that some of them cannot just be pleased however you try, maybe they just don't show their appreciation on your face, but deep inside, it's there...you don't need to see it sometimes...try to put yourself into their shoe, as a mom and granny, maybe you will also do the same...then you say "No, I won't be like that..." well let's just wait until you become one...try to appreciate also her efforts instead of stopping them, perhaps like you, she is also waiting to be appreciated...I'm doing this so far, and it's working quite well...I hope it works with yours as well....