- Jun 13, 2012
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There are a lot of posts about bad in-laws, and my own experience has been that parents are really critical of their children's spouses. I just wonder, is it even possible to be a good mother-in-law? Because it sure doesn't seem like that is a dynamic you ever see.
I know my parents were very harsh about my sister's husband and all my brother's girlfriends. I didn't hear any criticism about my own husband, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any; it is not in my parents' nature to complain directly to the offending child unless there is a clear opportunity. And to my surprise, my own mother-in-law randomly told my husband that he could leave if he wanted to. I asked him, "Where did that come from?" He claims he doesn't know, which may or may not be true. But I was stunned, because I was under the impression that I was the kind of girl that women wanted their sons to marry. Apparently not quite.
Anyway, all of my children are under the age of ten. But the fact is, I can't even imagine someone being good enough for them. I can picture a hypothetical candidate, being the kindest, handsomest, most educated and accomplished specimen I can think of, and he does not seem good enough for my daughter. Like, he probably doesn't have enough personality, for one. I watched her grow up from a baby and she is such an incredibly unique and wonderful person, that it would take someone pretty special to be worth her time. So clearly this is going to be an issue. Someday. How do you make yourself like someone you didn't raise, so much that you can accept them marrying your child? I'm already critical of people in general, and am constantly having to humble myself in prayer, and that is regarding people that don't even affect my life much. I don't know how I'm going to cope with people who marry my children.
I know my parents were very harsh about my sister's husband and all my brother's girlfriends. I didn't hear any criticism about my own husband, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any; it is not in my parents' nature to complain directly to the offending child unless there is a clear opportunity. And to my surprise, my own mother-in-law randomly told my husband that he could leave if he wanted to. I asked him, "Where did that come from?" He claims he doesn't know, which may or may not be true. But I was stunned, because I was under the impression that I was the kind of girl that women wanted their sons to marry. Apparently not quite.
Anyway, all of my children are under the age of ten. But the fact is, I can't even imagine someone being good enough for them. I can picture a hypothetical candidate, being the kindest, handsomest, most educated and accomplished specimen I can think of, and he does not seem good enough for my daughter. Like, he probably doesn't have enough personality, for one. I watched her grow up from a baby and she is such an incredibly unique and wonderful person, that it would take someone pretty special to be worth her time. So clearly this is going to be an issue. Someday. How do you make yourself like someone you didn't raise, so much that you can accept them marrying your child? I'm already critical of people in general, and am constantly having to humble myself in prayer, and that is regarding people that don't even affect my life much. I don't know how I'm going to cope with people who marry my children.