People who choose to get married know that when you marry your partner – you marry into the entire family. His parents – the in-laws – more often than not, because just as big a part in your life as your partner. That means having to find common ground and be polite to each other if you want your marriage to work and to be happy with your partner.
Tension With the In-Laws
There are some common reasons that there might be tension between you and your partner’s parents. If you’re constantly living with the nagging feeling that you don’t like the people your partner calls parents, there are some common reasons for that. Tension is inevitable, and you can try to figure out why they are driving you so crazy and if there’s anything you can do to smooth out certain situations.
Lack of Common Ground
In life, people usually try and find a circle of friends who share similar values, goals, and interests. But marrying someone and having their parents constantly in the picture might not be by choice. And it could be very tension-causing. But you have to remember that you can’t expect them to understand you any more than they could expect to understand them. Slap on a smile and appease them if you want to have a happy and healthy marriage.
Rude in Conversation
If the in-laws are constantly being rude to you in conversation – that should be something you work on resolving. When you walk into a new family, you’re not instantly going to be used to the inside jokes or the way they speak to each other. They also might not agree on social issues or other aspects of life. Excuse yourself from the conversation if it’s too much but do not complain to your partner – that will hurt their feelings and cause tension.
Have a Productive Talk
When you’re getting ready to talk to the in-laws about problems you might be having with them, include your partner and plan beforehand. Once you are both on the same page, find the time to talk to your partner’s parents. Find a quiet place, offer an apology if necessary, and make sure both sides calmly express their feelings so you can work things out!
You must remember that tension between you and the in-laws might be inevitable, but there are ways to remedy that. You might have to hold back a little and not talk back or express too strong of emotions that might hurt them. Remember – be honest and open.