My wife has confidence, self esteem issues. We have been married for four years and we have two kids. I live in Canada and she's from S. Africa. She lived there all her life until she was 22. We met there. Got married there. But now live in Canada. [more inside]
posted by alshain on Nov 15, 2009 - 48 answers

Are any of you in a situation where your parents and your significant other's parents have never met, and the situation will probably remain this way? Is it awkward, or accepted? I am hoping for any kind of advice on the logistics of this. I feel like it's common for in-laws to know each other, but I don't know this for sure. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 8, 2009 - 28 answers

2 weeks out from my wedding, and future mother-in-law is creating drama about future father-in-law's partner, who is roundly despised by all involved. [more inside]
posted by Seppaku on Sep 5, 2009 - 66 answers

Infant son's getting baptized, and our sister-in-law feels she should be allowed to invite several friends of hers who're not of our faith and not acquainted with either us or the baby. I think she's out of line. O wise Hivemind, which of us is right? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 17, 2009 - 65 answers

How should I handle this? (Father-in-law wants me to take him to Jewish bookstores in NYC without my wife, I have to work, I have never met him, and I know nothing about Judaism.) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 21, 2009 - 33 answers

We know where we want to get married, but the bride to be's parents don't like our preferred location [more inside]
posted by orville sash on Apr 17, 2009 - 51 answers

How do I resolve a child care conflict with people who swear they have done nothing wrong? [more inside]
posted by The Giant Squid on Mar 17, 2009 - 89 answers

I am getting married on May 12th. How do I break the news to my family? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 7, 2009 - 15 answers

What can/should we do to help my father-in-law? He's mismanaged his money, he's unemployed and he's in danger of losing everything. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 12, 2009 - 15 answers

With the holidays coming I find my inability to tolerate some family members and listen to the inane chatter that fills the room. I am often visually unhappy about the situation. How can I tolerate such gatherings in a way that at least makes it appear I'm not so unhappy? (Bonus points if I'm ACTUALLY not so unhappy). [more inside]
posted by arniec on Dec 1, 2008 - 28 answers

Help me learn to deal with my sister-in-law without going crazy! (Long background inside) [more inside]
posted by alpha_betty on Nov 18, 2008 - 47 answers

D...d...dowryfilter? Maybe? I'm getting married to a Chinese woman, very soon, and her rather wealthy parents are asking (hinting, in this face-sensitive culture, so I think that's what it is, but it could mean something else?) where my divorced, broke parents' contribution to the marriage is, or, in lieu of theirs, mine. They've tossed a $140,000 duplex our way, a prime rental property, and a ton of financial support for their daughter. I have about $400 in the bank and an okay freelance career. Barring 10 years to save up and match that...what, exactly, can I do to prevent this from getting really, really, really awkward? A long, rambling explanation follows. [more inside]
posted by saysthis on Sep 29, 2008 - 19 answers

[first time holiday dinner filter] It's my first holiday FEAST. And I must impress FUTURE INLAWS. Give me your tried-and-true "omfg where on EARTH did you get this recipe" holiday recipes - traditional is okay, but I'd prefer the off-kilter. [more inside]
posted by damnjezebel on Nov 25, 2007 - 34 answers

How to tell inlaws to buck up and be frugal? [more inside]
posted by ian1977 on Nov 6, 2007 - 41 answers

My girlfriend's parents (future inlaws?) forward me a lot of those awful right-wing emails. The latest one is an anti-Islam rant (inside). [more inside]
posted by neuron on Jul 24, 2006 - 73 answers

My future mother-in-law was laid off unexpectedly this week. She probably had a week's notice. Is there anything I can do? [more inside]
posted by saucy on Nov 30, 2005 - 9 answers

My father-in-law, who recently became ill, moved in with us last weekend. My wife and I have two young boys. My father-in-law has guns. I don't like guns. I was perfectly happy not having any guns in my house. Now I'm worried. I know my father-in-law will rattle off fifty-two reasons backwards and forwards and upside down until we're all blue in face why it's important to have guns around. It won't matter - I'll still hate knowing there are guns in MY house. What should I do, grow up and get over it? Or can a compromise be reached? Any advice?
posted by michaelbrown on Apr 28, 2005 - 54 answers

I am getting married this November. My SO and I have a great relationship with her parents and siblings, who live in the same town as we do (actually, she's living with her parents until our wedding). My family is 3,000 miles away from us. Now, I have a job offer that would require us to move about three hours away from her family. We can also stay where we are. Is it a good idea to be in close proximity to family as newlyweds? Is it more important to break away and start out on our own?
posted by willpie on Jul 8, 2004 - 17 answers