Mother-in-Law & Daughter-in-Law Conflict

Conflicts between mothers-in-law & daughters-in-law are one of the most common marital struggles. And why not? You’ve got two of the strongest bonds known to man – the mother/son relationship and the wife/husband relationship sharing the same, often relationally oblivious, man. The question is not if differences of opinions and miscommunication will occur, but when.

What makes the best mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships is not an absence of significant differences, misunderstandings, and miscommunications. Those are normal. It’s a mutual valuing of a lasting relationship, a commitment to clear, honest communication & resolving conflict together, with a healthy dose of humility, humor, and grace.

Few relationships require more direct humble inquiries (asking open-ended questions without knowing or seeking to manipulate answers), active listening (giving your full, undivided attention while acknowledging understanding & asking for clarification) and empathy (considering how you might feel if you were in the other person’s place).

Perhaps the key word in the previous sentence is