Looks like a few readers are interested in the upcoming, unwritten book on “How to Please Your Mother-in-law without losing your identity“. It’s not an impossible book. Based on practical tips from successful daughter-in-laws (like myself, I would hope so) who get along with their mother-in-laws, here are some:
1. Live as far apart from your mother-in-law. If she is based in Manila, move to South Africa. The farther you are, the fonder her heart will be towards you.
2. Give her a round trip ticket for a two to three weeks stay but make sure the ticket cannot be rebooked. How she will love you for your generosity. Repeat this practice every two to three years.
3. Praise her on how wonderful her son is and how her parenting style truly molded his character.
4. Take cooking, baking, sewing, crafts, gardening and household lessons. Not only will you benefit from the lessons but your mother in law will be impressed. Of course you didn’t do it to impress her.
5. Pray everyday. You know that she will never change her ways. Pray to get strength to go through another day and that your marriage will not be affected in a negative light.
Now this is nothing new but it works.
Here is something too funny not to share:
Did 1,3,& 4 – still didn’t work … I still top the list among her 4 daughters-in-law, her black list that is!
Based on my experience, may I suggest:
6. Do not ever forget to call on her birthdays! (I did that, and she added more black stars next to my name!)
7. Do not be your father-in-law’s favorite. (I am)
8. Have more money (your own) than she does! 🙁
This is so cute. I am my mother-in-law’s favorite daughter-in-law (my husband is an only child). 🙂
wala na yata akong pag-asa!!
she took our migrating as taking her son and apos from her :
Martha Stewart should run workshops for #4.
“… Repeat this practice every two to three years.”
Let me change that, repeat this practice every 5-7 years. 🙂
@Toe- wow you’re so lucky
@minotte- what’s important is you and your husband understand each other. That you set boundaries with regards to your mother in law
@eric- I would love to attend workshops as continuing education
@Lani- that’s too long . but yeah, good if it makes the heart go fonder.
Aha! How about for FIL?
I’ve no real problems with the MIL but her husband is — basta.
😛
hi. how would you handle a MIL who makes stories just to destroy the daughter in-law? mine is a hopeless case. even married the least favorite son. he he
Prayer works everytime 🙂
Lol, im not that lucky with mother-in-laws. He always puts me first anyways:-). Baby fr kingshil,dominica
These tips are funny. 😉 But I have long felt how much my mother-in-law hates me for marrying her son. At first I tried pleasing her according to her character but after so many years, I grew tired. Good thing there’s a lot of inspiring blogs like yours, ma’am, on the net.
nice tips my MIL treats me like her own daughter, i just pray she won’t change