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Mother-In-Law: From Adverse to Advice
If you are struggling with an overbearing mother-in-law or just looking to acknowledge the mother-in-law you that is so dear to your heart— here is a reading list that can serve information for those who are looking to make amends with their mother-inlaw, give a gift in hopes that their mother-in-law will take a hint, or even for a mother-in-law who is looking to avoid becoming “one of those.”
The Daughter-In-Law Rules: 101 Surefire Ways to Manage (and Make Friends with) Your Mother-In-Law
Sally Shields
Do you dread visits with your mother-in-law? Do you find yourself dodging ruthless comments hurled your way at every possible moment? Is battling your mother-in-law a simple fact of life, or is there another way to mitigate the age old conflict between mother and wife? In her hilarious book, author Sally Shields takes honesty, wit, and simple solutions, mixes in humor and practical solutions, and delivers what could be the daughter-in-law’s holy grail.
Deborah M. Merrill
Merrill uses her background as a Sociology professor and her extensive studies on the MIL-DIL relationship to explain the complex and difficult situation the two find themselves in. Dozens of interviews with pairs of women made in-laws by marriage illustrate Merrill’s points, from harmful ideas and actions to helpful approaches. Merrill provides a more intensely researched and academic study study of the in-law topic than most others out there.
Eden Unger Bowditch and Aviva Samet
This book falls somewhere in between the two aforementioned works in that it provides a professional approach without coming across as overly academic. Bowditch and Samet offer plenty of stories that allow for commiseration, but if you are looking for advice or solutions this might not be the one to turn to. Although lacking in ways to confront mother-in-law issues, this book will certainly let you know that you are in good company.