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August 1, 2016 What To Do When You Don’t Get Along with In-Laws
When you get married, you aren’t just marrying your spouse; you’re also marrying their family. This means that you will need to find ways of integrating yourself into their dynamic and keeping the peace. But this isn’t always easy.
How can you cope with in-laws that you can’t get along with for any reason? Keep reading for a few helpful tips so that everyone can remain happy and maintain their sanity.
Respect Boundaries
Sometimes it takes boundaries to maintain the peace in a family unit. If you are constantly bickering with your in-laws when you spend too much time with them, simply limit the amount of time that you spend interacting with them.
No one is saying that you have to have such a healthy relationship with your mother-in-law, for example, that you should be calling her on the phone and talking for extended periods of time. Even minimal interactions that are respectful and cordial can make a world of difference in helping everyone get along.
Understand That You May Not Get Along with Everyone
Everyone has their own unique personality, and many times these personalities will end up clashing, resulting in disputes or, at the very least, a feeling of strife even if it isn’t on the surface.
So while you may have tried to do your best to establish a friendly relationship with your sister-in-law, as another example, you may have to let your hopes go. Accept the fact that people may have differing views and may not want the same things that you desire out of your relationship with them.
Do It for Your Spouse
If it seems like you are always facing problems when it comes to your in-laws but your spouse wants to maintain a close relationship with them, you need to respect his or her wishes. By keeping this in mind, you can do your best to have a positive relationship with your in-laws on behalf of your spouse. So even if you hate the idea of having to spend the holidays with your in-laws, you should do it to make your husband or wife happy.
There’s Always Hope for Change
It’s important to keep in mind, too, that there is always the hope that people will eventually change and that relationships will evolve. The brother-in-law who never really gave you the time of day may eventually turn into one of your closest friends. You just never know what will happen, so keeping those lines of communication open, however limited, could be just what you need to establish a healthier relationship in the future.
Finally, don’t feel like there is something wrong with you because you don’t get along particularly well with your in-laws. This is actually a really common problem that married couples face. By working together, you can enjoy the time that you spend with family and keep the stress levels to a minimum.
