Communication is key. The pregnant woman should sit down with her mother - in - law and calmly explain how she feels. For example, she can say 'I understand you want to be involved, but your constant criticism is stressing me out.'
One horror story could be when the mother - in - law tried to control every aspect of the pregnancy. For example, she demanded that the expecting mother follow very strict and old - fashioned diet rules that were not even recommended by doctors. She constantly criticized the mother - in - law - to - be for any small deviation from her so - called 'perfect pregnancy plan', which made the pregnant woman extremely stressed.
One horror story is that my mother - in - law always criticized how I cooked. She would come into the kitchen while I was making dinner and say things like 'You're using too much salt' or 'This isn't how we make it in our family'. It made me feel so self - conscious and unwelcome in my own kitchen.
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 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.
The over - critical type is one of the worst. They find fault in everything from cooking to how you dress. It can make you feel constantly on edge in your own home.
Well, one horror story could be when the mother - in - law constantly criticized how the house was kept. She would come over unannounced and start pointing out every little mess, making my friend feel like she was never good enough as a homemaker.
Sure. One horror mother - in - law story is that she always criticized her daughter - in - law's cooking. No matter what was made, she would find faults and compare it unfavorably to her own cooking when she was young. It made the daughter - in - law feel extremely stressed every time she entered the kitchen.
Well, there was this case where a mother - in - law tried to control every aspect of her son and daughter - in - law's life. She would barge into their house unannounced, rearrange their furniture according to her taste, and even tried to tell them how to raise their children. It was a nightmare for the couple as they had no privacy and constantly felt undermined in their own family decisions.
Set boundaries clearly. In a case where the mother - in - law is over - involved in your life, like constantly dropping by unannounced, let her know that you need your own space. You can say something like 'We love having you visit, but it would be great if you could call before coming over.' It might be a bit difficult at first, but it's important for a healthy relationship. Also, involve your spouse. Your partner should support you and talk to their mother about the issues too.