7 Ways

Your Mother In Law

Can Help Your Family

Yes, it is possible, and it's also great for your marriage!

As everyone know, mothers in law have been the butt of countless jokes and one-liners over the years, probably for as long as marriage has been in existence. In fact, the often tumultuous relationship between men and women and their mothers in law is cited as one of the number one reasons for problems within a marriage, even more so between women and their husband's mothers.

However it doesn't have to be like that, there is a lot that you and your whole family can gain by staying close to your mother in law.

1. Strengths relationship with your spouse. When you show that you get along and love your spouses mother it builds the self esteem of your spouse (They think, "My spouse loves MY mother!) and strengthens the bond between husband and wife.

2. Respecting elders. Getting along with mothers in law is very important when there are children involved. When you get along with your mother in law you teach your children how to respect older people. (You become a role model for them to respect you!) Not only are children little sponges that absorb everything they see and hear around them, this woman is also their grandmother and they deserve to have a relationship.

Regardless of your personal feelings toward her, never criticize or speak badly about your mother in law in front of your children, or any other members of the family for that matter.

3. A Helping Hand. Speaking of children, your mother in law is also the perfect babysitter, someone to help out when you need an extra hand. After all, she raised your spouse didn't she?
4. Financial assistance. Also, yet another benefit to keeping the relationship between you and your in laws a happy, or at least a civil one, is in your best interest in the event you and your spouse ever need financial assistance.
5. A Simple Matter of Respect. After all is said and done, your mother in law does deserve at least some degree of respect, if not for either of your benefit, but for your spouse's. Try to see things from her point of view, take the initiative to be pleasant and approachable. Even if your efforts go seemingly unnoticed, you'll at least know you’re doing the right thing, and that in itself is rewarding and enough to be commended.
6. Another point of view. True that you don't always agree with your mother-in-law, but she might ALSO have a valid point. Marriage, raising children, and life in general isn't always easy and often times you need to look at things at a "different angle" to make it over the humps. Listening to someone from a different generation might be just the catalyst that you need to think of a creative solution to your present challenge.
7. An available support system. Lets face it, deep down inside your mother-in-law really loves you, her son/daughter, and her grandchildren. If you get past the jealousy and bickering she wants you to succeed and she will be your biggest fan.

Often, just stopping and reminding yourself that your mother in law is a person too, a person with real feelings who has already lived a whole life in another generation before you came into the picture may be enough to put things in perspective.

Allowing the problems with mothers in law, regardless of how insurmountable they may seem, to cause further difficulties in your marriage honestly isn't beneficial to anyone involved, either now, or in the future.

Many times, families simply need someone to step up and take the high road, be the "better person" and do whatever it takes to make an honest effort toward improving their relationships and you will be SO HAPPY that you did.



Return to Mothers in Law from Benefits Of Mother In Law