#in-law-conflict

#in-law-conflict

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, a clinical psychologist and author of "You, Your Husband, and His Mother" (out on November 4), told Business Insider that, in her nearly 20 years of experience, a common theme has been married couples wanting to build stronger relationships with their extended families. More often, daughters-in-law desired to get along better with their mothers-in-law. Dalgleish said women tend to be in charge of communicating and organizing events on behalf of the family.

Our niece (my husband's brother's daughter) is expecting her first child. While we are very happy for her, the way she announced her news, and some of her past actions, have affected my feelings toward her as they had directly impacted me, my husband and our kids. This niece announced her pregnancy to us (via FaceTime, as she doesn't live locally) at a family birthday dinner that was held for the combined birthdays of her father and our son.

I was at my mother's place last week, and I heard my stepfather make a racist joke about a popular children's character on the TV. I told my mother that I don't want her husband at my daughter's party or around my family in the future. She claimed "he was just making a joke" and that I'm taking it too seriously. I said as much to my mother and told her that either her husband stays home or they both do.