How to Tackle a Difficult Mother-in-Law?

If your current or would be mother-in-law is creating a havoc in your life, then de-escalate the tensions.

How to tackle a mother-in-law who's difficult or how to avoid mother-in-law issues - if those are your concerns then we have the solutions. 

#1. Understand Common Problems

How to handle a mother-in-law who's difficult and stubborn? Try to recognize the common problems that might be arising without coming in anyone’s notice. Mother-in-laws can at times be different persons as compared to the ones they gradually become. So, it’s your responsibility as a member of the same family to understand her behavior before personally taking things. Unsettled situations start to ease if you begin working on the issues.

#2. Maintain A Physical Distance

How to ignore mother-in-law matters? Keep yourself distant from her! This doesn’t mean you have to travel across the country, but do not show up at every occasion. However, also not make it a habit to further escalate the issues and circumvent disputes in the family.

#3. Do Not Expect Change

You know where your relationship with your mother-in-law stands at the moment. When she is behaving just the same from quite a long time, do not expect her to change. Rather, distance yourself and accept the same as a positive and motivating factor. Don’t let your constant efforts go in vain in a hope to changing someone.

#4. Identify The Triggers

How to handle mother-in-laws? Make sure to recognize and bypass their triggers. Once you determine the provoking aspects, it gets easier to manage Mother-in-law matters. Maybe there's something very peculiar that’s eliciting her temper. Once you know what's exactly under the skin, you can soothe the scenario.

#5. Let the emotional temperature remain low

There are situations where conflicts are inevitable. Consider that she might have regarded your feelings as inferior despite all the efforts. Therefore, don’t let the same stop you from countering in a suitable manner. Let not the guilty weapon overshadow the circumstances. Mother-in-laws might manipulate their attempts by making you feel guilty. But, you have to bring it down to consciousness.

#6. Define Your Boundaries

Every relationship has some standard boundaries which when crossed calls for a stand for itself. If your mother-in-law is inconsiderate of the lines and willingly crosses them, make sure to let them know without violating your manners.

#7. Resort To Different Approaches

How to ignore mother-in-law issues? You can just avoid picking up fights and take a stand for yourself. Let off all the complicated feelings and start devising ways where both of you rest in gratitude in spite of getting even more frustrated.

#8. Ask For Support

Want to know how to tackle your mother-in-law issues? Ask for help from your spouse, parents or friends. It's very important to seek for something you don’t have the answer to. MIL grievances can always be discussed. But make sure to stick with behavioral problems and not her character assassination. If your partner just refuses to observe the side you are going through, don’t give them a problem. Instead, handle it like some behavior that you find offensive and make it sound real.

#9. Try Being Compassionate

Send across your message in a gentle and compassionate manner. Don’t be calculative but make your intentions appear genuine. She could be a good person, but just a little confused with the relationship. 

#10. Maybe She Has Some Serious Insecurity

You could be her child’s new found love and that could be unacceptable to her. Or maybe she’s not ready to agree to the fact that another member of the family is gaining more attention. Deal with it in the best way possible!.

Liked what you just read? Want to share with us any of your personal experiences? Let us know through the comments section below. We would like to hear from you!

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