More to come...

We've gotten some great comments that I'll be reposting soon. So don't go away, there's actually more to come. As always, you're welcome to leave a comment anonymously if you just need to get something off of your chest. :)

Seeking Families Struggling With In-Law Drama – Help & Compensation Offered!

I received this inquiry from a production company that is interested in featuring families with in-law problems. Details are below. If you are interested, please email them - information is at the end. DO NOT leave comments here expecting to be contacted about the opportunity. You must email them for more info. I'm just passing it along in case someone wants to give it a try.
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Has your family’s life been negatively impacted by your poor relationship with your In-Laws? Is your marriage suffering as a result of their behavior? Are you at your breaking point, and feel as though there is nowhere to turn?

If the happiness of your marriage and your family is in jeopardy due to your tumultuous relationship, we can help.

This new documentary-style TV series, similar to A&E’s “Intervention,” will help long-suffering families confront their In-Laws head-on and mend damaged relationships before they are completely destroyed. Families will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with a professional counselor to get to the heart of their issues and stop the drama once and for all.

To learn more, obtain an application or nominate a family, please email your story, contact information and family photo to inlawcasting@gmail.com.

In addition to professional help, participants will also receive financial compensation.

Apologies

We had several comments tied up in the spam box, but that's been fixed. I didn't realize that's where they were going. Will try to check more frequently!

Lies mother-in-laws tell

Our next submission is from an anonymous user:

My mother in law lies about my to everyone. She tells others that the reason her son isn't at any family functions is because i feel my family is superior and more important when in fact she just drives him crazy. She is mean and rude. She was going to not even come to my bridal shower and told my matron of honor and my mother that they were not to include any of her family members because no one would be attending. Luckily, my finacé laid down the law and she attended, but made snide comments the entire time and refused to talk to anyone, including me.

She has told me in the past that I do not belong and I am not apart of the family. That I look down on her and her family when I have made every effort to include them in the wedding. She is embarassing my fiancé and he feels terrible that she is so cruel. No one can curb her out of control behavior, and we've all tried. What the heck do I do now? Is it going to be like this for the rest of our lives?? I can't stand this!!

Has your fiancé told his mother to curb her behavior? As much as it drives you crazy, it is very hard for you to say anything that will make a difference. Your future husband must be the one to tell her that her behavior is unacceptable. He may even need to go so far as to tell her that he won't visit or see her if she continues this way.

And he needs to make it clear that he's doing the talking, not you. If she feels that he was "put up to" it, then it will only make her more angry & give her fuel for her rantings. She needs to understand that her snide comments & rude behavior are unacceptable. You are going to be part of his family and his mother needs to accept it. If she doesn't, then she has to accept the consequences of her actions.

Another submission, from mistie

This is our next submission, from a reader named Mistie:

My mother in law is absolutely driving me insane. She is completely obsessed with my husband. She decided to wear a white dress that made her look like the bride to our wedding. Tried to take away a room reserved for her own sister for the wedding, (paid for by my parents.) To give to her thirteen year old son and his friend who wasn't invited to the wedding.

She was allowed to invite 30 relatives to the wedding to make her feel included. I was informed that I had to invite 60 which is more than my husband was allowed to invite total. My mother in law couldn't seem to drive the best man to the church due to driving her younger sons friend. We had to remove the best man for this. She expects us to send her all of our pictures however she didn't pay for anything except meat at the rehearsal dinner, which was done for her by relatives, and didn't send a wedding present.

She was over bearing when my husband and I were dating. On my birthday when I traveled twelve hours to be with my husband due to living in different states at the time because we are military members. She wouldn't even let me go get my hair colored without being in the car with us.

She showed up at my grandfather, (whom she never met.)'s funeral to look for my husband and hounded my parents at the funeral to go take them to see the church where we were getting married. She tried to alter my flower arrangements for my wedding even though she paid for none of it. The florist told her to leave and called me.

Now she plans on coming to visit us in a different state to see us. I have been warned this will be an unannounced visit. Everything except the birthday incident has happened in the past month someone please help me deal with this horrible woman.

Mistie, this woman sounds like she is in desperate need of attention. Is your father-in-law in the picture? You didn't mention him at all.

If your husband wants her in his life to some extent, then you'll have to tolerate her a little. But that doesn't mean she needs to walk all over you. You and your husband must set boundaries for her. And your husband needs to talk to her.

Has he tried talking to her, or does he cave when she whines? Is he a momma's boy, or does he know how to stand up to her?

What say you, readers? How should Mistie deal with her annoying mother-in-law

Obsessive MIL

Here we go with our next submission:

I've been married over 23 years and my husband is a good person. His mother, however, is always looking to cause trouble. My husband has a son from his 1st marriage and my MIL is obsessed with that son. The son is now 31 y/o and the biggest loser you'd ever want to meet...thanks to my MIL, who wouldn't keep her nose out of our business and had to rescue the child every time he was disciplined.

The MIL is not happy unless there is turmoil in the family. She's lies to create chaos. I've gone toe to toe with her, but it's a waste of energy because it does not change her bad behavior.

She talks trash about my sister-in-law, (her other son's wife). But that's not all...she talks trash about her son's too. Even the one who cuts her lawn and shovels her out in a snowstorm.

I'd like to take a cast iron frying pan and whack her across the face with it......

She refers to my son as a little bastard! My son works for a living and is a responsible person. My stepson (her favorite), has stolen from her, taken her car at will, pushed her around, called her nasty names etc. but he's treating like a king.

Never in a million years did I think a would have to deal with such a rotten human being.

Some people don't know how to live without chaos or drama. It's too bad that her choices have affected your family like this. It sounds like the most you can do is avoid spending time with her. That's too bad, as it sounds like she'll miss out with her other grandson.

Grumpy MIL

Here's our next submission:

My MIL's a f@#%ing grumpy. And loves her son (my hubby) too much like a baby (it's like she's still nursing him). So everytime we have problem my hubby always tells it to his mom like a baby and i'm always the one to blame. Asshole!!!! Go to h@ll you f@#$ing MIL.

I think we have some unresolved anger here, no?

MIL asks for too much

From the comments:

i am a husband age 28, my wife age 25. both of us get a low pay as a government servant. my mother in law ask a her daughter(my wife) an expansive things that we cant afford. recently she ask my wife to buy a car for her. that reallly distrurbing my minds. Its affected me financially, mentally and emotionally. HELP ME!

Any thoughts for this poor young man?

This was my response:

you and your wife need to talk this over. if you can't afford what your mother-in-law is demanding, be honest and tell her that. is there a cultural or religious tradition that expects you to buy things for your mother-in-law? if so, you need to discuss together how you will break with that tradition. you must present a united front.

Any other ideas?