askmymotherinlaw.com

Dear Mother-in-Law,

I am new to Facebook and yes, I am a mother in law.

I am in a quandary. I don’t know if I should or should not send an invitation to friends and relatives? Is there a proper etiquette?

I would NOT want my daughters-in-law or my sons to feel like they were -obligated- to add me as a “facebook friend” since were are far more than friends. Would you agree it is better to be requested than to request? I have received requests from friends of all ages but can certainly understand where a daughter-in-law, like mine, would be grief stricken over not offending me! What’s your advise wise mother in law?

From one mother-in-law to another.

Play the podcast below to hear my Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

As a new bride, I’ve heard horror stories about mothers-in-law being jealous of their son’s wife. Is there any way I can be relatively certain of getting off on the right foot with my new mother in law? Perhaps some “does and don’ts” for young wives?

Future Daughter-in-Law

Play the podcast below to hear my Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

As a new bride, I’ve heard horror stories about mothers in law being jealous of their son’s wife. Is there any way I can be relatively certain of getting off on the right foot with my new mother in law? Perhaps some “does and don’ts” for young wives?

Future Daughter-in-Law

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

It may sound funny, but our family is facing a problem that is probably not unique and I am not sure what to do. My mother in law wants to join my husband’s - her son’s - Facebook page. He and I both are trying to figure out what to tell her since we don’t really want her on our Facebook pages. Some of our entries are rather, well, “personal” items that we’d rather not share with her. She sees Facebook as a way to share more family items, such as pictures of her grandchiildren and so forth.

Facebook daughter

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.

Dear Mother-in-Law,

My husband and his mother have a passive-aggressive relationship. During the past two years, decisions about visits and holidays have been delayed, muddled, or otherwise messed up because the two of them have a hard time being direct with one another. Increasingly, I find myself in the middle, with my MIL asking me loaded questions about our next visits, vacations, etc., and my husband withholding input until the last minute. I feel as though I am in danger of crossing ill-defined lines when my MIL calls or sends me emails. I’ve talked to my husband about this situation but not much has changed. I’m inclined to keep a low profile and stay out of the way, but I’m wondering what I else I should consider doing to have a positive impact and to make life run more smoothly for all of us.

Stuck in the middle

Play the podcast below to hear My Mother-in-Law’s answer.