Are you the mother-in-law from hell?
IT is the age-old family clash – a mother taking umbrage with a new potential daughter-in-law.
Maybe she isn’t the kind of girl they envisaged their son marrying, or both want to be the alpha female in his life. But as the older and wiser female, shouldn’t the mother know better?
Author Sandie Jones has written a psychological thriller called The Other Woman that explores this complicated relationship. In the book we see Emily on the receiving end of her partner’s mother’s vindictive and intimidating behaviour. That wouldn’t happen in real life though… would it?
Here Sandie has drawn us up a handy quiz so you can find out exactly what kind of mother-in-law camp you fall into…. The first time you were introduced to your son’s wife, did you: a) Make sure all the family were there to meet her b) Shake her hand and welcome her warmly c) Look her up and down before turning on your heels How did you react when your son proposed to her? a) Cry tears of happiness b) Felt a little unsure, but happy c) Forbid the marriage When they were planning their wedding, did you:
a) Call a wedding planner and meet her on their behalf b) Let them get on with it c) Try to sabotage the event so it couldn’t go ahead Your daughter-in-law wants to spend the day with you. Do you: a) Think it’s a brilliant idea and can’t wait for it b) Worry about running out of things to talk about c) Tell her you couldn’t think of anything worse It looks like your daughterin-law has put on a little bit of weight. Do you: a) Offer to go to Slimming World with her b) Tell her she looks fabulous c) Tell her she looks fat They’re staying at yours and you hear interesting noises coming from their room. Do you: a) Put a glass to the wall b) Shut your ears off to it and turn the TV up c) Burst in and lie between them It’s your daughter-in-law’s birthday. Do you: a) Insist they both come over to you b) Offer to look after the children so she can go out for a special dinner with your son c) Ignore it You make dinner and it looks like your daughter-in-law doesn’t like it. Do you: a) Ask her if there’s anything else you can get her b) Discreetly take her plate away and make no mention of it c) Tell everyone that she obviously doesn’t like your cooking When you discovered you were going to be a grandmother, did you: a) Immediately go shopping and buy every baby outfit in every colour b) Ask them what they’d like you to get and be on hand to offer advice c) Call up social services – she’s not fit to be a mother She’s been ill and when you visit, the house is a mess. Do you: a) Tidy up, clean and get the ironing up to date b) Give her a batch of homemade soup c) Not even call to see how she is Your son has had a huge row with his wife. Do you: a) Take him to one side and tell him to sort out his priorities b) Leave them to sort it out themselves c) Cry and tell your son you knew it wouldn’t last Your grandchild is badly behaved and your son and daughter-in-law don’t bat an eyelid. Do you: a) Step in, reprimand the child and suggest they get ‘tested’ b) Leave them to discipline on their own c) Tell them that their child is going to end up in prison or on the streets