Ahh yes the dreaded in-laws. Snooping, controlling, demanding, at least that's how Hollywood portrays them. But is that how it has to be? This week I read a chapter out of a book called "Helping and Healing our Families". This chapter, entitled "Creating Healthy Ties With In-Laws and Extended Family, reaffirmed something that I already knew, my parents are wonderful In-Laws. From the beginning they have made my husband feel loved and accepted as part of our family. My dad will always tell people, my husband is his favorite son-in-law (currently his only), and always gives him a giant hug when he sees him. Since the day we got married my mom has never shown up at my house unannounced, and if we happen to be on the phone when Bruce comes home from work she immediately ends the phone call so I can go and greet him. While we are always welcomed in their home and invited over often, if we can't make it regardless of the reason they warmly say they will miss us and that's it.
When it comes to our children, neither of my parents have ever once told us what to do. While my mom is happy to give suggestions is asked, she never tells me what to do. Coming up we are moving out of state and I know my mom is having a hard time with it, but she has never said a single negative word about us moving away. In fact she has been encouraging and supportive because she knows it's what we want to do a will be good for us.
I hope to someday be as great as my parents have been at being in-laws. I am sure it is very difficult adjusting to a child getting married, but they have never treated it like losing a daughter, but like gaining a son.
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| On my wedding day. The day my parents became In-Laws |
