When women marry and start a family, we envision a loving, respectful adult relationship with our husbands, parents, in-laws, and extended family. For some of us, this is exactly how things unfold. But, for the rest of us there can be trouble. Big trouble. The arrival of the first baby/grandchild can make the the daughter-in-law/mother-in-law relationship fraught.
Q. I live in California and my mother in-law lives in New York, so we don't see that much of each other. She just sent a gift for our seven month old baby that I think is awful. It's a hideous looking jack in the box type thing, that has a scary laugh when it jumps out.
Q. I've never really liked my daughter-in-law. She is a manipulative and spoiled person. A few weeks ago I was at their house to babysit my granddaughter. I took her to the mall for an icecream and got her a haircut - she's about a year and a half, and really needed a haircut with summer coming. My daughter-in-law was very upset when she saw her daughter and since then I have not been invited back to their house.
Q. I think my husband gets jealous for his mom because she doesn't get to spend as much time with our daughter as my mom does. Therefore, EVERY weekend we end up having dinner or having his parents come over. Is it selfish of me to be annoyed that I have to share my only time with my family with my MIL?
Dennis and Kimberly Quaid Know Marriage After Kids Hard Work, But Worth a (Second) Try
Hillary Duff’s Marriage Advice for New Moms | Babyproofing Your Marriage is available at any major bookstore, or online: |