How to be a Great Daughter in Law

Mother in law jokes are popular, but it's not always the mother in law's fault when in law relationships are rocky. Learn how to be a great daughter in law.

Learning how to be a great daughter in law can be easier than you think. If you want to build a good relationship with your mother in law (or even just have a civil conversation), then read on. Who knows – you may be saying "I love you" to your mother in law sooner than you think!

These daughter in law do's and don'ts could give you a great relationship with your mother in law. Getting along with your mother in law may be easier than you think, especially if you're clear and firm about your expectations. Building a good relationship with your mother in law is easier if you're nice to her.

To be a great daughter in law, DO:

1. Be clear, honest, and calm with both your husband and mother in law about your needs and desires. To be a great daughter in law, be honest.
2. Gracefully and humbly admit it if you've made a mistake, such as expecting too much or trying to control your mother in law's actions or personality.
3. Respect her opinions, wisdom, age, and experience. Build a good relationship with your mother in law by listening to her.
4. Stay away from your in laws if they could harm or abuse you or your children.
5. Have a "party line" and stick to it ("We chose to spend the money this way and we stand by our decision," said calmly and repeatedly will eventually dissuade even the most stubborn mother in law).
6. Let your husband – her son – discuss big issues with her. As the daughter in law, stand back. Encourage him to set and maintain boundaries, such as calling before visiting.
7. Call your mother in law just to say hi. Being a great daughter in law starts with being thoughtful.
8. Be firm that your mother in law respects your wishes. If she shows up uninvited despite your request to call first, gently turn her away. You may be her daughter in law but you can stick to your guns!
9. Stand up for yourself if your mother in law criticizes your appearance, house, or parenting style. Point out remarks you think are unfair or unnecessary when they happen (not months later, or to your husband that night).
10. Enlist your husband's support in standing up for yourself. Building a good relationship with you mother in law involves getting support.
11. Stick to your decisions as wife, mother, and daughter in law.
12. Be considerate of health concerns of your mother in law, such as depression, failing physical health, and fears of aging. A great daughter in law cares about other people's health.
13. Be consistently clear that your mother in law is not in control of your home, children, or husband.
14. Be patient in the face of hostility, silence, or rejection. Building a good relationship with your mother in law requires patience.
15. Show respect and compassion even when you don't feel like it.
16. Learn the difference between "help" and "control". Help is lending money; control is dictating how it's spent. Build a good relationship with your mother in law by focusing on helping or being helped.
17. Realize that being firm and clear about your wishes won't ruin your relationship. Building a good relationship with your mother in law requires work.
18. Pay attention to your mother in law's needs and wishes. A great daughter in law considers others' desires.
19. Ask your mother in law to join your world! Invite her to take a walk, yoga class, or art gallery tour with you. Change your environment, and you may change your daughter in law relationship.
20. Accept that personality conflicts happen, and learn to live with differences of opinion, perspective, and culture. A great daughter in law knows and accepts who she is.

To be a great daughter in law, DON'T:

1. Tell mother in law jokes unless they're positive.
2. Offer excuses or rationalizations. Stand by your decisions and choices.
3. Get drawn into arguments, debates, or screaming matches. A great daughter in law lets things go.
4. Let little things bother you. If your mother-in-law refuses to go to your place for the holidays, then enjoy the relaxation of not hosting.
5. Expect your mother in law and husband to read your mind. Building a good relationship with your mother in law requires honesty.
6. Be afraid to apologize. A great daughter in law says "I'm sorry, I was wrong," when necessary.
7. Expect an apology from your mother in law in return. Building a good relationship with your mother in law requires no expectations.
8. Let your mother in law's assessment of you color your self-perspective as a daughter in law or woman. You can't control what others think; you can only be who you are and live up to your own standards.
9. Be swayed by complaints, comparisons, or nagging from your mother in law.
10. Be rude, critical, or overly sensitive to your mother in law.
11. Criticize your in laws in front of your children. Building a good relationship with your daughter in law means that you don't cut others down.
12. Let your happiness depend on other people. A great daughter in law is happily self-sufficient.

Being a great daughter in law means being yourself. Building a good relationship with your mother in law can supersede even your own mother-daughter bond - and it can even outlast your marriage!

If you found How to be a Great Daughter in Law helpful, you may enjoy How to be a Great Mother in Law.

How to be a Great Daughter in Law

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