TIPS AND TRICKS

Sometimes in-laws can be overbearing, but you have to get along with them anyway. This is how.

1. Communicate with your spouse:Make sure you and your partner know what the other is feeling at all times when it comes to relationships with mom and dad. 
2. Keep your cool: Losing your temper will only create bigger problems. Always be respectful to your in-laws, even when expressing that you dislike something they do.
3. Create boundaries: It’s key to make expectations clear up front, including frequency and the length of visits.
4. Don’t forget who your in-laws are: When all is said and done, your in-laws are your children’s grandparents. It’s important to find a way to have them be a part of your lives while still managing to hold on to yours.
5. Create family rituals: Create some kind of a regular appointment where your family can get together with your in-laws and catch up, but don’t make it so frequent that you feel smothered.

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TIPS AND TRICKS

Watch Your Words

Although it might not strike a lot of parents as problematic behavior, it’s not okay to tell your kid, “I had a stressful day at work and need a hug,” says counselor Brent Sweitzer. “That’s more about your needs and not your child’s,” he says. “It interferes with children’s autonomy. They might think, ‘What will happen if I don’t hug? Will my parent stop loving me?’ It’s fine to ask your child to sit on your lap, for example, but it should always be a choice for the child.”