Why are mother-in-laws totally insensitive?

@Scindhia (1906)
India
February 2, 2016 11:15pm CST
I'm yet to come across one mother-in-law who does not show any difference between her daughter and daughter-in-law. My mother-in-law is no exception. No matter how much hard I try to satisfy her expectations, she keeps building her expectations. She expects me to work like a machine and does not like my husband helping me. She even explicitly advises him not to do so. She hates to see us go shopping or anywhere together for that matter. My husband is in a very uncomfortable position due to this. We tried explaining to her that our life style was different from theirs but to no effect. My father-in-law is actually scared of his wife, so its no use trusting him to do something about this. We are a joint family and the tension in our family is slowly impacting our son. I don't want this to continue because at the end of the day no one is happy. What to do?
7 people like this
6 responses
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Feb 16
It's time to move away from your in-laws. It's the only way you will be happy.
3 people like this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
4 Feb 16
Wouldn't that be rude? But perhaps that's the only solution given the situation.
2 people like this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
4 Feb 16
@Scindhia Rude? how can that be rude? That is simply life.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
4 Feb 16
@Scindhia I guess it would depend on the culture, but here we don't live with our in-laws, and it only makes sense to me that it's the best way to take care of the situation you find yourself in.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
16 Feb 16
I'm sorry to hear this and especially how it impacts your son. Hopefully he will understand as he gets older. There is often friction between wives and their mother-in-law especially when they live under one roof or even are neighbors. I hope things get better for you. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
16 Feb 16
@Pose123 It is better on some days and goes on a dip some other days. But I have learned to tackle the issues most of the times.
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
3 Feb 16
I am sorry that you have to go through that. It's difficult for you if you have a mother-in-law like that. As others suggested, do you think it's possible for you to move to another house? I am not sure if she'll allow your family to move out. Glad that your husband is supporting you. Hope he'll manage to finally convince his mom to change the way of thinking, though it can be really hard to change one's mind. Good luck to you!
1 person likes this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
4 Feb 16
That's exactly why a good husband is not equal to a happy family. The entire groom's family has to be nice for a bride to be happy in our kind of society.
@dodo19 (47317)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
3 Feb 16
I'm sorry to hear about this situation. It can't be easy. I'm lucky as I have a really great relationship with my mother-in-law. We've kind of adopted each other. I don't really think of her as an in-law, and I think she feels the same. I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-law. I hope things change between you and your mother-in-law.
1 person likes this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
4 Feb 16
I'm really delighted to know that such a mother-in-law exists. Good for you. May you both have the best of times together and may your bond strengthen over time!
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
3 Feb 16
I had a great mother-in-law, it was the daughter that made life difficult. Of course, I was no piece of cake either, from her point of view and that is that she hated me but pretended to love me for her own ends.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
3 Feb 16
It would be better to find a separate place from the in-laws. It is one of a kind nature of mother-in-laws not to jive with their daughter-in-laws. However, it is not in general matter. It could be influenced by old customs or practices.
1 person likes this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
4 Feb 16
True. My mother-in-law is very old-fashioned and it is very hard to influence or change her line of thought. I cannot relate to whatever she is doing most of the time. It is as if we are from two very different eras.