Holidays with your in-laws can be stressful under good circumstances. If your in-laws have become out-laws for some reason, the stress level rises greatly. There are a few concrete things you can do to smooth things over with your in-laws, or better yet, prevent them from becoming out-laws in the first place! Consider this list of small, but important ideas to build a bridge between you and your spouse’s parents:
- Be proactive! Set the tone for the holidays by sending a card or e-mail ahead of the holiday saying how much you are looking forward to spending time with them.
- Toast your in-laws at the holiday dinner. Another option is to toast your mate and say how grateful you are for how your in-laws have raised him or her.
- Incorporate one of your in-law’s holiday traditions into the celebration.
- Ask for a holiday recipe from your mother-in-law and make it for the holiday dinner.
- A general rule for the holidays or afterwards is to refrain from calling your in-laws only when you need them for something, like babysitting. Sometimes call just to say, “Hi” or to invite them over.
If you’d like more ideas on how to strengthen your relationship to your in-laws at the holiday season, click here: