| Oh, mother-in-laws -- ain't they grand? Even if you can't stand your spouse's mom, your best bet is to push aside problems the two of you may have at least for the holidays. If she's in the kitchen, offer to help (yes, even if it means peeling potatoes. You can also try to get on her good side by saying grace and specially thanking her for the meal. Any olive branch you can extend will make the holidays go smoother for everyone, especially your spouse. In other words, kill...uh...I mean, get on her good side, with kindness. | Okay, listen up: Holidays with the in-laws should follow the same rules as sporting events. For one, the host gets home-court advantage, so if you're mother-in-law is having the holidays at her house, guess what? It's your turn to play nice (hey, it's her turf). So suck it up, help serve the sweet potatoes and do your best to be a good sport. If you're the one hosting, well, you can't control what she does -- but you can manage how you handle it. Translation: When she asks you to pass the bread, don't throw a roll at her face. Also, avoid all hot-button topics -- they'll only cause a fire. |
-- The Nest Editors
Nov 13, 2009
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