Why You Should Never Live With Your Mother-In-Law
Many couples choose to live with their in-laws after getting married. It’s a tradition in many cultures and can be seen as a way to respect your elders; but more often than not, it’s done as a way to save money.
Today’s economic climate is tough, and young couples, now more than ever before, are struggling to make ends meet. Moving in with the in-laws gives them the chance to save for a place of their own, or at least put a little money aside each month.
However, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies living with your mother-in-law. Some might say there are no rainbows and butterflies at all! Let’s explore why.
10 reasons why you shouldn’t live with your mother-in-law
1. She’ll have an opinion on everything
From how you cook, to how you clean, to how you raise your children – she will have an opinion on it all. And she’s not afraid to voice those opinions, even if they’re unsolicited (especially when they’re unsolicited).
2. You’ll never have any privacy
Whether it’s your bedroom, the bathroom or just having a conversation on the phone – you will never have any privacy when you live with your mother-in-law. She’s always going to be around, and she’s always going to be listening.
3. She’ll criticize your every move
Nothing you do will ever be good enough for her. You could be the perfect son- or daughter-in-law, but she’ll find something to criticize you for. She might not even know that she’s doing it – it’s just her nature.
4. She’ll try to control you
From what you wear, to how late you come home, to what you do with your free time – she will try to control every aspect of your life. And she might get frustrated when you don’t comply with her wishes.
5. A small disagreement with your spouse will be exacerbated
You can forget about having quiet, civil disagreements with your spouse when your mother-in-law is around. She’s bound to take sides, and she’s bound to make things worse when she does.
The problem here is that any arguments you do have as a couple are likely to be blown out of proportion, and you’ll almost certainly come out looking like the bad guy or girl – even if you’re not.
6. You’ll never have any alone time with your spouse
When you live with your mother-in-law, you can forget about having any quality alone time with your spouse. That can mean time alone lounging on the couch or more intimate moments in the bedroom.
The physical and emotional intimacy in your relationship is likely to suffer as a result, and that can put a lot of strain on even the strongest of marriages.
7. You’ll feel like a child again
No matter how old you are or how long you’ve been married, when you live with your mother-in-law, you’re likely to feel like a child again. She might treat you like one, too – even if she doesn’t mean to.
8. You have to live by her rules
It’s her house, so you have to live by her rules, no matter how arbitrary or downright ridiculous they might be. For example, she might have a rule about what time you can come home at night or how often you can have visitors over.
Of course, you’re an adult and you should be able to make your own decisions, but when you live with your mother-in-law, that’s not always the case.
9. You might start to resent her
It’s only natural to start feeling resentment towards someone who is constantly around, criticizing you, trying to control you, and making your life difficult. And that resentment is only going to grow the longer you live with her.
10. It can put a strain on your relationship with your spouse
When you’re constantly arguing with your mother-in-law or feeling resentful towards her, it’s bound to hurt your relationship with your spouse. Your spouse will be forced to take sides, and yours might not always be the winning side.
Conclusion
In the end, living with your mother-in-law can be a recipe for disaster! It’s likely to cause arguments, resentment, and even emotional distance in your relationship with your spouse. Only do it if you have no other options, and have in mind a set date when you’ll be moving out.