Are you one of those to whom even a visit to the dentist is preferable to visiting your (s)mother-in-law? Is your MIL a leading candidate for the award "Smother-in-law of the Year", every year? Hmmmm.... It would do you a world of good when you understand that you are certainly not alone in this world! Most women find it extremely stressful when asked to spend holidays and vacations with their in laws as they feel they are constrained to put on an act, though it is much against their wishes. But take heart! There are ways of dealing with the situation and even turning it to your advantage!
Never try to out-law your in-laws!

Instead of trying something drastic that might even work against you, you can use all your irritation and resentment to your benefit.

• Begin by accepting their shortcomings and acknowledging your frustration. This way, you come to terms with the situation quite early, before it gets out of hand. You are able to thin and analyse clearly and soon find that your resentment simply dissipates.
• Get into your relationship with a positive outlook. Do not be judgmental or encourage negative feelings in yourself. Instead, try and have as much fun as you can – after all, everything is still very new and you can begin by focusing on having a good time.
• Should your MIL go all out to show you in a bad light during family gatherings, simply counteract it by being pleasant, yet distant. Surely your attitude will provoke her into trying to find out why you are so, and this will give you an opportunity to tell her exactly why.
• However, sometimes it might be too much for you to take. In that case, simply excuse yourself and go or a walk or drive to calm your spirits. Taking time out to be with yourself will ease the tension building up in you.
• Sometimes, simply spending quality time with your MIL might actually improve the relationship. You might even bond well together, and you might discover points about each other that you really like and even admire. Try going out to a movie together, just the two of you, or even a visit to the beauty parlour. Who knows? This might give a totally new dimension to the relationship!
• Plan your visit in advance. Try to please your in laws by getting them little gifts, books that they have always wanted to read, magazines they like, new videos and so on. You can even screen a special video on the family which they might appreciate.
• Sometimes, you will find that your MIL's attitude is almost childish and immature. In which case, a simple reversal of roles where you do all the nurturing with kind words might just tilt the balance in your favour! All you have to do is to be cool and don't let the situation affect you.

We are sure that armed thus with all these suggestions, it will be a real win-win situation that calls for careful handling of in laws – whether it is your mother-in-law, father-in-law or even your sister-in-law!

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