How to maintain a relationship with a difficult mother-in-law

If you can't avoid communicating with an unpleasant person, you need to look for options on how to keep the relationship neutral.

The relationship with the mother-in-law can directly affect the relationship with husbandbecause, whatever one may say, a man will try to protect his mother in any conflict. But what to do if the mother-in-law does not get into her own business and it becomes more difficult to maintain a neutral position?

1. Live separately from your mother-in-law

The good old rule of thumb is that the farther your relatives are from you, the better your relationship with them. And the man will be more independent and conscious if the mother's pressure is reduced to a minimum.

2. You don't have to love your mother-in-law, and she doesn't have to love you.

Sometimes people just don't like each other, that's okay. You don't have to constantly try to please and get upset that this is not happening. There should be respect in a relationship: you treat your mother-in-law with respect and sufficient understanding - and you expect the same from her. And you certainly shouldn't compete with her for the love of your spouse.

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3. Try to negotiate and say things that worry you

Sometimes even a calm and reasoned conversation can cause a conflict with the mother-in-law, but it is still better to try to talk, and not keep resentment and irritation in yourself. The accumulated negative emotions will one day spill out - and the conflict will be much greater.

4. Influence your mother-in-law through your husband

If he adequately assesses the situation and sees that his mother is wrong, then try to convey your position through him. A woman will accept the opinion of her son differently than the opinion of her daughter-in-law, including when it comes to raising grandchildren.

5. Speak kind words and do kind deeds

Compliments and gratitude, when spoken from the heart, will always find a positive response from the mother-in-law. Make a small gift, take an interest in her affairs - and the tension will subside a little.

6. Don't make yourself dependent

There is nothing worse than being directly dependent on the person you dislike. That is, if you transferred the care of your child to your mother-in-law in order to go to work, and at the same time you have constant mutual claims with her, then you need to look for another option for the child's attachment. From such an atmosphere, the baby himself will suffer in the first place.

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