How to Deal With a Difficult Mother in Law

A difficult mother-in-law can be a serious problem. They may interfere with your child-rearing, make it hard for you to feel comfortable around your family, and even cause a rift between you and your spouse. Most of the time, your mother-in-law’s issues have more to do with her fears and insecurities, so you should try your best to not take them personally or internalize them. To deal with a difficult mother-in-law, talk to your spouse to develop a strategy together. Once you’ve agreed on a way to deal with the issue, stay consistent to send the message that you’re serious about confronting the problem and deserve respect.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Appeasing an Old-Fashioned Mother-in-Law

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  1. Offer to take your mother-in-law out for coffee or lunch and ask to discuss the issue when the two of you sit down. Start by explaining that you aren’t angry or upset, but simply want to understand why she’s being so critical. [1] There may be an underlying issue that is bothering her, and discussing the problem in a collaborative way will get you closer to solving the problem. [2]
    • Start by making it about you. Say, “I’d love to sit down with you and talk through something that’s been bothering me lately.” This will make it seem like you have a problem, not her, and will prevent a potential argument.
    • If your mother-in-law’s issues have to do with your culture or religion, do your best to keep your cool. You could say something like, “I’m respectful of your beliefs and I think that it’s only fair if you’re respectful of mine.”
  2. If your mother-in-law critiques your style or beliefs, play her comments off like she’s making a suggestion, not an objective comment. This will undermine your mother-in-law’s comments by making them seem like they’re entirely a matter of opinion. It will also relieve tension a little bit by making it easier to move on in the conversation. [3] [4]
    • “I guess I’ll have to think about that,” “That’s an interesting perspective,” and, “I see where you’re coming from, let me think about it,” are good responses that will make it seem like there’s nothing more to say.
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  3. If your mother-in-law comments or critiques something relating to your religion, culture, political beliefs, or class, create a firm boundary by calling her out. If you consistently show her that you’re unwilling to tolerate her comments, she’ll be forced to confront her unfair beliefs and defend them. If she doesn’t want to do that, which is the more likely response, she’ll simply lay off of the sensitive subjects. [5]
    • Be firm, but respectful. For example, if your mother-in-law says you need to start going to church, say, “I don’t criticize your religious beliefs and you have no right to criticize mine. I will not tolerate you tearing me down. Please stop now and we can move on.”
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Coping with an Argumentative or Critical Mother-in-Law

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  1. Ask your mother-in-law out for coffee or lunch and explain that you don’t want any bad blood and that you respect her. Calmly explain that you feel like she argues with you a lot and ask what you can do to help resolve the issue. You may not like her answers, but you’ll get some insight into the underlying problem. [6]
    • If your mother-in-law completely denies the fact that she argues with you, she may simply have no idea that she’s doing it. This could be an indication that she isn’t actively trying to criticize you. Drop the topic and see if her behavior changes after you’ve brought it to her attention.
    • If your mother-in-law simply says she doesn’t like you, there isn’t much you can do. Show her that you’re a worthy partner for her child by staying out of arguments with her and agreeing to disagree.
    • Keep in mind that the problem may have nothing to do with you. Things may be turning sour with her husband or she may be upset with something going on at work. If this is the case, offer to help her in whatever way you can. She may stop taking it out on you.
  2. If she can’t even discuss the problem without starting a fight, enlist your spouse to talk to her. Ask him to calm her down and open up a channel of communication with her. She may simply feel uncomfortable talking to you about her grievances. [7]
    • If she won’t communicate constructively, don’t engage in an argument. Your mother-in-law is likely trying to pick a fight and this will create a vicious cycle where you’re rewarding her by giving her what she wants.
  3. If your mother-in-law comes at you when you’re in front of your spouse or children, show her that you won’t let her treat you unfairly by standing up for yourself. Use a firm and respectful tone to point out that she’s behaving irresponsibly and focus on her behavior instead of the content of the argument. [8] [9]
    • For example, if she says something like, “You’re so bad at keeping track of things. Why are you such a disorganized mess?” Respond by saying, “Ms. Smith, I don’t know why you think it’s reasonable to try shaming your child’s partner, but it’s unacceptable. Please stop.”
    • Point out that there is a time and place for tough conversations. Say, “We can have an adult conversation about this privately, but I’m not going to sit here and argue in front of our guests.”
  4. If she’s trying to argue in front of guests and the topic of the argument is silly or unimportant, simply let her talk and keep your responses short. She will show everyone just how angry she is while you prove how level-headed and calm you are. It may also have the effect of calming her down once she sees you won’t respond. [10]
    • This is a particularly good strategy if you’re having trouble convincing your spouse that this is an issue.
    • When your mother-in-law says something like, “I can’t believe you didn’t sign your children up for summer camp, why are you so inattentive to their needs?” say something like, “Please explain,” to let her continue and make a fool of herself. You’ll seem like a reasonable person that is open to advice, while she’ll look like an argumentative child.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Handling an Overbearing Mother-in-Law

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  1. An overbearing mother-in-law is likely acting out of an impulse to take care of her child. If you approach the subject with her when your partner isn’t around, she will automatically feel like you’re betraying her child’s trust and not acting in their best interests. [11]
    • She also may not trust your decision-making, so facing her one-on-one may be counterproductive and lead to an argument.
  2. If your mother-in-law tends to make a lot of demands, calmly explain your reasoning for doing something differently to make it seem like you aren’t simply trying to spite her. If you simply ignore her, you’ll just make her think that she needs to push harder. By explaining yourself, you’ll not only show her that you’re willing to stand up for yourself, but you may point something out that she hasn’t thought about and make her agree with you. [12]
    • For example, if she claims that you’re not being appreciative of your partner, calmly explain, “I express appreciation privately all the time, just not in front of you. I don’t want to disrespect you by making a show of it.”
    • If your mother-in-law won’t stop asking when you’re going to have grandchildren, make it about the quality of life for the children to seem like you’ve thought it through. Say, “We’re waiting until we’ve set up a college fund so that we give them the best future possible.”
  3. If your mother-in-law tends to insert herself during key decisions or conversations, simply wait until she’s not around or move to a different part of your home to talk it out. She can’t insert her opinion if she isn’t around to make it. [13]
    • “We can talk about it later” is a simple way of deflecting tough conversations in front of your mother-in-law.
    • Try coming up with a signal with your spouse to indicate that you want to talk privately. It can be something as simple as a tug on the ear or an innocuous phrase like, “We need to go grocery shopping soon.” That way you can keep your mother-in-law from getting offended that you plan on discussing something when she isn’t around.
  4. If your mother-in-law is often critical of you specifically, try showing lots of affection and appreciation for your spouse whenever she’s around. She may relax if she feels like the two of you are both working towards the common goal of making her child happy. [14]
    • Simple comments like, “I appreciate you picking the kids up today. You’re such a good partner!” are an easy way to score points in front of your mother-in-law.
    • This is a good strategy if your mother-in-law has expressed a concern about your loyalty or dedication. Showing her that you care about her child will put her at ease and make her feel less compelled to insert herself.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Collaborating with Your Spouse

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  1. If your mother-in-law has always been critical, demanding, or argumentative, you may need to simply work out a strategy to minimize the behavior and cope with it. If this is a new behavior and it is directed only at you, there is likely an underlying problem that must be addressed. Talk to your spouse to get a better understanding of your mother-in-law. [15]
    • If you’re nervous about broaching the subject, say something like, “I’d like to talk about the way your mother has been acting, but I don’t want to fight. I just want to discuss the issue to see if we can find a solution.”
    • You’re going to have a greater chance of succeeding if you work on this issue with your spouse. They’re going to have a lot of insight and if you behave in an unexpected way with your mother-in-law, it could cause a rift between you and your spouse.
  2. Presenting a united front with your spouse will send the message to your mother-in-law that her behavior is unacceptable. If your spouse confronts the problem first, it will signal that you both acknowledge the issue. Ask your partner to talk to her privately to see if they can uncover the root of the problem. If your spouse is uncomfortable getting in the middle of things, ask them to at least stand up for you when she crosses a line. [16]
    • Ask your spouse to report back to you after they have a private conversation with their mother. They may have some important information about what the root of the problem is.
    • Tell your spouse, “I really think that you’ll have an easier time talking to her than I will. If you talk to her first and figure out why she’s not acting fairly, it will make it easier for me to sit down with her.”
  3. Don’t get ahead of yourself and start talking or arguing with your mother-in-law without consulting your spouse first. If you cross a line or engage in an argument without agreeing on a coping strategy, you may end up offending your spouse. Decide on whether you want to confront, deflect, or avoid the problem together to give yourself the highest chance of succeeding. [17]
    • Even if you want to deal with the problem by talking to your mother-in-law privately, you should still consult your partner first. They may have some tips or advice on how to speak with her, and you should give them a head’s up in case your mother-in-law goes to consult them after the two of you speak.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Handling Issues with Child-Rearing

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  1. Your mother-in-law has a lot of experience raising children. It is possible that she is acting out because she feels like you’re being disrespectful by ignoring her or not soliciting her advice. Ask how she would handle teaching the children to swim or finding a preschool program. Even if you don’t take her advice, she may relax once she sees that her opinion is important. [18]
    • Give her some small wins! If she says that ginger ale is better than tea for a runny nose, just suck it up and get your kid some ginger ale. It will give you some room to maneuver when it comes to the important decisions.
  2. A comment like, “You need to look for a good private school” can quickly be appeased with a simple, “I’ll keep that in mind!” or, “Education is important. We’ll think about that!” This will minimize the subtext of her comments by making them seem like non-issues. [19]
    • If she ever says anything you agree with, mention it. Give a comment like “Your kids are growing up fast!” a simple, “They really are!”
  3. Your mother-in-law may feel micromanaged when you leave a long list of requirements and instructions for babysitting. Your mother-in-law clearly did a decent job raising your spouse, so try trusting her. It can be scary to leave your children with other people when they’re young, but she may feel disrespected when you leave a long list of tasks or warnings. [20]
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  • Question
    I live in Spain with my Spanish boyfriend (I'm English). His parents are very involved in our lives and his mother can be overbearing. I'm finding the cultural differences hard to handle. What should I do?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
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    You can raise a concern without being culturally insensitive by framing it from your perspective. Make it seem like the problem is your's (even if you don't think it is). This will incentivize your boyfriend's parents to be more accommodating and will make them feel like they're being benevolent. If they still don't back off, ask your boyfriend about moving. You may need to establish some space to create a boundary between your relationship and your boyfriend's relationship with his family.
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  • Question
    I finally had my spouse talk to his mother and she said that my mother-in-law has no idea what I'm talking about. Now I feel bad for bringing it up and I'm worried that she won't respect me. What do I do?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
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    Reflect a little bit. Were you overreacting and kind of imagining things? If so, try apologizing in private and explain where you were coming from. It's natural to be nervous about a mother-in-law's opinions, so she should be understanding. If you think that she was actually rude, your spouse may have taken it easy when discussing the topic. Try to talk to her privately and state your case when your partner isn't around. She may have a different response and you may be able to make some progress.
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    How do I deal with a MIL who is racist towards me? She also constantly hurts me physically.
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    You can't change what's in a person's heart. If your mother-in-law is racist, consider cutting her out entirely and refusing to engage. You spouse should be understanding of this. If your mother-in-law is physically abusive, contact the police. There may be some fallout, but nobody deserves to be attacked.
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      Tips

      • If all else fails and the issue really gets out of hand, you can always move further away to make it harder for her to interfere.
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      • If your spouse won’t support you and stand up for you, it’s a sign that the two of you have a larger problem. Consider consulting a marriage counselor to start working on your issues.
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      • If you’re calling your mother-in-law “Mother” or “Mom,” stop immediately. You may be giving her a false sense of intimacy that makes her feel like it’s acceptable to be critical, rude, or downright mean.
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      References

      1. ↑ Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA. Life Coach, Author, and Speaker. Expert Interview. 18 March 2020.
      2. ↑ https://sg.theasianparent.com/what-to-do-with-a-difficult-mother-in-law
      3. ↑ Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA. Life Coach, Author, and Speaker. Expert Interview. 18 March 2020.
      4. ↑ https://sg.theasianparent.com/what-to-do-with-a-difficult-mother-in-law
      5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201310/have-in-law-issues
      6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201311/how-handle-your-monster-in-law
      7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201311/how-handle-your-monster-in-law
      8. ↑ Michelle Shahbazyan, MS, MA. Life Coach, Author, and Speaker. Expert Interview. 18 March 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201311/how-handle-your-monster-in-law
      1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201311/how-handle-your-monster-in-law
      2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201310/have-in-law-issues
      3. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/relationships/relationship-women-theirmothers-in-law-often-fraught-itneednt/
      4. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/relationships/relationship-women-theirmothers-in-law-often-fraught-itneednt/
      5. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/relationships/relationship-women-theirmothers-in-law-often-fraught-itneednt/
      6. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/relationships/relationship-women-theirmothers-in-law-often-fraught-itneednt/
      7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201311/how-handle-your-monster-in-law
      8. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mate-relate-and-communicate/201311/how-handle-your-monster-in-law
      9. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/relationships/relationship-women-theirmothers-in-law-often-fraught-itneednt/
      10. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/relationships/relationship-women-theirmothers-in-law-often-fraught-itneednt/
      11. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/relationships/relationship-women-theirmothers-in-law-often-fraught-itneednt/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you have to deal with a difficult mother-in-law, detach emotionally by thinking of her as an acquaintance and equal, rather than your "other mother." That way, you won't be as hurt when she says things about you. Although your mother-in-law most likely won't change, do your best to understand why she's difficult towards you, so you know how best to deal with it. For example, if she sees you as a threat to her relationship with her son, try distancing yourself physically by skipping the occasional family event, so your mother-in-law and spouse can spend time without you. Since driving a wedge between your spouse and his family will only escalate the situation, make sure you don't do anything that could harm his or your children's relationship with your mother-in-law. For more advice, including how to set boundaries with a difficult mother-in-law, read on!

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