how do you deal with your mean mother in law?

Answer 1

Kill her with kindness. For every single mean thing she says or does, tell her "thank you mom." It's hard to keep being mean with someone who is always nice to you.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

I MOVED!! worked like a charm... Moving not an option?
STEER clear and if that doesnt work, only speak to her when spoken to...The less you talk to her the better.

Once, I had a MAJOR ISSUE with her and she called me pretty much everything but a white girl and I being of Cajun blood, let my temper get the best of me...needless to say by the time I was done with her, she was speechless...To bad it only lasted a month or so.. But when she opened her mouth again, I told Tim, either you stand up for me or you can hire yourself an attorney b/c I have never let my mom or dad ever talk to you like that and I'll be damned if Im gonna let her talk to me this way. So you can either GROW a backbone or I can leave..PICK YOUR POISON BABE..
We bought a house miles away about 2 weeks later..LOL

Answer 3

Kill her with kindness is good advice, but try to be genuine about it. The more time you spend with her when she's in a good mood, the better. In time, you'll probably grow on eachother as you have a common loved one. Also, try not to complain about your mother in law to your wife, even if your wife complains about her. You might also ask your wife how to get on her mom's good side.

Answer 4

I pretty much ignore her. when she comes over, which is seldom, my 2 year old son asks her if shes drunk and then he tells her to get out of his house, and he will sometimes tell her to go home. I will tell him to be nice but I refuse to yell at him for it because he came up with it on his own and no one tells him to tell her these things, I do not talk about her in front of him either. One day she came over drunk and my husband asked her if she was because when she is drunk she is not allowed to hold my son or my daughter He hardly knows her because she doesnt like me and never comes over. When we go to her house he will just stand by me and he will keep crying and says dont leave me here, and I wont. Its not my responsibility to find a way for her to see him. It is hers

Answer 5

Keep the visits short and far apart. If this isn't possible, I always try tuning her out. Kinda like when your kids whine about how it's not fair. You know your right so who cares what she thinks.

Answer 6

WE LIVE 45 MINUTES AWAY AND I PLAN ON KEEPING IT THAT WAY.....I don't go there unless he is with me IT'S HIS MOTEHR NOT MINE BUT IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE I AGREE WITH THE OTHERS... I WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE CRAP... HE CAN EIETHER STAND UP FOR ME OR HE CAN HIRE HIMSELF AN ATTORNEY.... WE ARE NOT MARRIED YET BUT I AM PUTTLY MY FOOT DOWN NOW.. YESTERDAY WAS OUR VERY FIRST CONFLICT.. AND SHE IS ALREADY TELLING THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HOW POORLY I TREATED HER AND ALL I SAID WAS I AM NOT ACUSTOMED TO EXPLAINING MYSELF TO PEOPLE AND YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I CUSSED HER OUT...... SO SHE TOLD THE WHOLE FAMILY ON ME.....

Answer 7

we tell her when she is being nasty to us. we set boundaries with her and enforce those boundaries. when she takes no ownership for her behavior and does not apologize, we do not see her and she does not get to see our kids. (currently going on). If she cannot practice mutual respect and consideration we do not waste energy having a relationship with her.

Answer 8

Make the best of it you can, be nice and ignore the mean. I've been there for 32 years.

Answer 9

Make her love you. Be Nasty nice when she is around. Win her over and you will have a friend for life!!!

Answer 10

My husband just stayed away from his. I didn't have that problem. I like the suggestion of killing her with kindness. It would have 'killed' my husbands M-I-L