More and more couples, even the newly married ones, staying away from their family due to job and work commitments. This means you develop your own lifestyle, which is more conducive to increase love, respect and affection in your relationship. You and your husband divide the essential chores between yourselves and the life goes on pretty much smoothly, until one day your in-laws or more specifically, mother-in-law plans to come over for a stay.A perfect S-O-S moment!
Some Changes in your lifestyle
No, you do not have to take off from work (in case both of you are working) to be at home with your in-laws. They will understand your work commitments. However, if your hubby has been making the morning tea or the small evening brunch, then his mother may not appreciate it. Therefore, for a week or more you may have to look after all the kitchen chores. But the best part in it is that your mom-in-law would be more than happy to help you.
The traditional four meals a day (breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner) are a must or ask your husband about his family’s eating rituals. Similarly, you must let your housekeeping skills show by keeping the home free from dust in even the remotest part. I may sound like a cynic, but elderly in-laws can deliver a sermon over the most insignificant issues. It doesn’t mean that they like to scold you or something. It’s just that they are more used to doing things their way and change in any form at this point in life does not go down easily with them.
Stock the fridge with fresh vegetables, fruits and everything that your in-laws like. Ask them about their requirements and make them feel completely at home. This will go a long way in proving that you indeed care for them.
City-Tours, Friends and Relatives
Take your in-laws for a tour of the city, show them the famous places, temples and if they like to watch movies, get tickets for the evening show and follow it up with a dinner in a nice restaurant. Pay attention to their little needs and comfort.
Invite your friends and relatives in town for evening or plan outing with them. You will have sufficient reinforcements to carry you through the day and you will be surprised when you see the pride with which your in-laws talk about you and your various virtues.
The Children-Talk
The best way to evade your mother-in-law from taking up the dreaded talk about children is to admire the best qualities of your husband and giving her the credit for them by appreciating her motherly skills. Whenever you see the subject coming up, just sweet talk her into sharing her recipe of pineapple pudding or pav bhaji, which her son misses a lot. If you are very lucky, within moments she’ll don the kitchen apron and prepare the delicacies herself.
When you are eventually cornered into talking about when you plan on starting a family, nicely lay the blame on your husband and say he is not ready for them yet. Let the mother and son solve it between them. However, please do let him know about this in advance!