I’ve been a mother-in-law for 23 years now. And there are things I’ve love for my daughter-in-law to know.
And the things I’ve learned over the years have come mostly from the mistakes I’ve made.
I’ve had lots of opportunities to learn with having [five] kids — three daughters and two sons — and all of them married. In addition to my own experiences, I’ve also discovered many insights from older women, as well as from hanging out with younger women.
After asking a few questions and listening closely to their responses, it’s become increasingly clear that many of us share similar fears, struggles, and wishes for a better relationship.
My hope is that these 10 things will give you, my a little insight into the heart of your own mother-in-law . . . .
10 Things I’d Love My Daughter-in-Law To Know About Me
1. I really want to have a good relationship with you.
I am scared that I’ll mess up. And I will.
One mother-in-law expressed it this way:
As a mother-in-law, I wish my daughter-in-law knew how frightened I am that she won’t love and/or accept me and I will be locked out of a full relationship with her, my son, and future grandchildren. I am nervous to be myself and worry about a glass wall between them and me. I know I will always be in their life, but worry that it could be a formality and not true love.
2. Some of us come from a dysfunctional family.
We may have had a poor model or no model at all.
This hampers me in trying to establish a good relationship. If you consider my family of origin, it may enable you to understand a little bit why I do — or don’t do — what I do.