The Out-Law: Dealing with a Challenging Relative

I should start by saying that I’m fortunate enough to have great in-laws. They are truly genuine people, and in a world where HORRIBLE in-laws are a very real possibility, I hit the in-law jackpot. They accepted me into the family with open arms, are great with my kids, and mind their own business (for the most part).

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However, I guess all good things must come with a price and that price is my out-law. I’m not saying what relation she is to the family, or anything too specific about her, but that she is a growing pain and I’m regularly trying to find ways to put up with her.

  • This out-law only thinks of herself. She never thinks about how her actions impact anyone else, and she feels the world owes her everything.
  • I have watched her increasingly cause her immediate family more and more trouble, but yet she expects to be bailed out at every turn.
  • It’s hard to find great advice on how to deal with her, other than just to accept that this is how she is and realize that she has no apparent plans to change.

How do you bend over backwards for someone that you know will never do the same for you? I guess it’s called just being a good person, but when it happens time and time again, it’s hard to want to be that good person.

Having in-laws is such a strange concept. When your family irritates you, you can call them out on it and yet know they will always be there because they have to be, they are your blood. Your in-laws are like family, but in-laws don’t have to stick around, they don’t even have to like you, and calling them out on their stuff can really backfire.

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Can YOU relate? Do you have an ‘Out-Law’?

How do you deal with the relationship?

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