What are the common themes in future mother - in - law horror stories?

Another theme is criticism. They are likely to criticize the daughter - in - law's appearance, behavior, or career choices. Maybe she doesn't like the way the daughter - in - law dresses and makes snide comments all the time.

One horror story is that my friend's future mother - in - law constantly criticized her appearance. She would say things like her hair was too long or her clothes were not stylish enough. It made my friend feel really self - conscious and unwanted in the family even before she got married.

Jealousy can be a big part of it too. Some mother - in - laws are jealous of the relationship between their son and his wife. They feel like they are losing their son. Also, control is a common factor. They want to control every aspect of the couple's life, from financial matters to social activities. This can create a very tense and unhappy situation for the couple.

One common theme is transformation. The mother - in - law often transforms in some way, either physically like turning into a magical creature temporarily, or in terms of her personality, becoming more understanding and kind. Another theme is family unity. Most of these stories use the mother - in - law's fantasy element to bring the family closer together, whether it's through solving family problems or creating new family traditions.

One common theme is the initial adjustment period. For example, when a new bride enters the family, she and her mother - in - law need to get used to each other's habits. Another theme is about passing down family traditions, like recipes or holiday customs.

Power struggles are also common. For instance, in - laws may want to be the dominant ones in the family, making decisions for the couple instead of letting them make their own choices. This often leads to a lot of family drama and unhappiness.

Well, a common one is the mother - in - law who is always comparing her daughter - in - law to others. She'll say things like 'Your cousin's wife can sew and cook so well, why can't you?'. It's really demoralizing for the daughter - in - law.

One common element is over - interference. Like in the case where the mother - in - law tries to control how the couple raises their children, constantly giving unwanted advice on things like discipline or education.

Another theme is mutual respect. In Japanese society, respect for elders is important. So, when the daughter - in - law shows respect for the mother - in - law's opinions and ways of life, and the mother - in - law respects the younger woman's place in the family, it paves the way for a loving relationship. It's like in a story where the daughter - in - law asks the mother - in - law for advice on family matters, and the mother - in - law gives kind and helpful suggestions.

Well, this is a rather inappropriate topic. Let's change it to something positive like 'What are some heartwarming stories about relationships between mothers - in - law and daughters - in - law?' One answer could be that sharing family traditions can be a great bonding experience. For example, passing down a special recipe or a handicraft skill.