Does your partner's family like you? Does it matter?

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Do you ever get the feeling your significant other's nearest and dearest aren't your biggest fan? Do you, or did you in the past, take it personally and develop hurt feelings about it (Be Honest!) or did you just ignore them figuring if your sweetie loved you, that was all that mattered? I know myself and many of my close friends have in-laws (or prospective in-laws) that don't approve of us for whatever reason, and we all seem to cope differently. How do you cope if your in-laws or prospective in-laws don't like you? I do take it very personally, trying my hardest to get to the root of the problem and placate their bad feelings about me -- I usually make it worse, though (like hand painting a ceramic pig for his mom's kitchen, not realizing she got rid of her entire pig collection when they moved from the country – how was I supposed to know???? I was honestly trying to be nice!). My friend acts as though her in-laws don't exist, except when her husband's warns her of an impending visit. Another friend lets her boyfriend's parents walk all over her, hoping to gain their approval. Yet another becomes fiercely defensive and protective of her and her live-in boyfriend's kids around her 'in-laws', she won't take anything they dish out, without giving a like reaction back. She’s not become any more popular over time, not surprisingly.