Getting along with family isn’t easy. At least when it’s your own family, you can show them the dark sides of you that you usually have to hide from other people. When you’re with other families, it’s the time to feign propriety with proper poise and politeness. Now, this feeling is especially exacerbated when it comes to your partner’s family. Albeit, while the first few years of being a couple, the pressure to impress feels immense, this weariness about impressions fades away quickly once you…

Being single offers you the flexibility to do as you like. However, once you tie the knot, you and your spouse become one, which means you must honor their wants and needs. The story that follows is an account of a dissatisfied wife. The original poster (OP) and her partner were married more than ten years ago. The husband was injured in a tragic car accident a few years ago, which made it impossible for him to return to work. Therefore, from being a cozy dual-income household, they are current…

Mothers-in-law can be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. The daughter-in-law who is frustrated is described in the story below. The original poster (OP) had recently given birth to her first child. The mother-in-law of the OP has tried to exert authority over both her son and the newest member of the family. OP had assumed she could take this in stride and with grace, but ever since becoming a mother, she has entirely lost tolerance and empathy for her behavior. After that, OP and her part…

We all have (or had) parents, that is simply a fact. We all also have extremely different relationships with our parents, those of which affect other relationships we have in our lives, whether romantic or otherwise. Even for people who have a good and strong relationship with their parents, it can create quite a tense situation when another loved one joins the equation. The husband in this Reddit story has a strong relationship with his mother, which unfortunately badly affects his relationshi…

Family should always come first. Even so, how would you react if your in-laws purchased the house next door and wanted to relocate ‘within walking distance’ of you? Would the thought of your mother-in-law's face scare you every morning, or would you be grateful for the extra help? The daughter-in-law who is frustrated is described in the story below. The original poster (OP) and her partner recently bought their first home together. At first, everything appeared to be going rather well for OP,…

I don't blame her...

It's important to first know what you're marrying into before saying “I do.”

Another drama between a woman and her mother-in-law

Life is full of unexpected events. But you never, ever, stop to consider the basic fact that when you marry someone, you are literally marrying his entire family... The story below is an account of a frustrated daughter-in-law. The original poster (OP) had just welcomed a darling newborn boy with her now-husband. The baby is the husband's firstborn and OP's third child overall. At first, everything was going great for OP, but after the baby was delivered, her mother-in-law became involved and m…

Weddings are a joyous event. Marriage represents the union of two families on a larger scale, as well as the union of two persons on a micro level. If your future mother-in-law refused to accept the fact that you were now a formal member of the family, how would you respond? Would you try to make things right, or would you just accept things as they are and give up while you're ahead? The story that follows tells the tale of a perplexed mother-in-law. The original poster (OP) expresses doubts a…

The audacity

How long are you willing to be engaged?

"maybe he should move back home with mommy"

Birthdays and weddings are supposed to be joyful occasions to celebrate. An appreciation of life and all that it has to offer, a celebration of our past successes and our goals for the future. However, how would you respond if your loved ones decided to compare the two events, painting one as extravagant and the other as inexpensive? Would you take what was said at face value and run with it, or would you end the conversation before it even got started? The story below is an account of a confus…

It matters who you are with more than what you wear or where you go. Or at any rate, that's what people say. Having said that, it's a very different story on your wedding day, which is supposed to be your special day. The story below is an account of a frustrated wife. The Original Poster (OP), who recently got married, just received her wedding photos. OP was initially thrilled about reliving the lovely day she enjoyed so much, however she quickly remembered how angry she had grown with her MI…

Setting straightforward boundaries when it comes to money will help you avoid unnecessary conflicts and embarrassing discussions. The story that follows is an account of a frustrated wife. The Original Poster (OP) was left a sizeable inheritance by her mother. Her husband and his family, however, believed that rather than supporting and consoling their grieving daughter-in-law, it would be better to spend the extra money on extravagance and pleasure. Despite this, OP maintained her position, re…