More and more people in America are living with their parents or in-laws. This situation can lead to stress and negative feelings, but it doesn’t have to. Sometimes a parent’s health condition requires you to open your home. Other times, it could be due to financial issues. Whatever the reason, learning how to live with your in-laws peacefully can be a challenge. This blog post will help you navigate through this tricky time with ease.
Steer Clear of Family Arguments
Arguments are unavoidable when you live with your in-laws. It can bring up old memories and habits from your spouse, making it easy to slip back into childhood patterns. Do your best to listen to your partner, but stay out of the arguments altogether.
There’s no point in making a big fuss over everything. Some topics are better left unsaid. Discuss your worries and thoughts with your partner or therapist to work through resentment and other feelings healthily. And ensure you’re doing the same for your spouse. Talking things out with your partner will help you discover what are significant concerns and what are annoyances.
Seek Help When You Need It
Having your in-laws in your home and life 24/7 can bring out various emotions among family members, not to mention stress. Your in-laws may seem to care the most about what you do and are doing with your life. The situation can begin to feel overwhelming, and you could feel depressed or anxious. Contact a therapist to help you work through your emotions and avoid conflict.
Don’t feel shame asking for help. It’s completely normal. You don’t want your relationship to turn rocky because you’re trying to help out a family member. Consider other options, such as marriage counseling or an alternative living situation. If you have the space and money, building a yurt cabin on your property for your in-laws is an excellent option. If you don’t know, yurt cabins have become incredibly popular recently. They’re hard-sided shelters that are simple to build and will provide additional space for your in-laws to stay in. There are several reasons why yurt cabins are great for in-laws. For example, everyone will have their own spot to retreat to after a long day, which can help eliminate stress.
Establish Boundaries
Before your in-laws move in, discuss expectations with your partner about what life will look like. How will you handle chores in the house? What will the ground rules look like? Divy up the household chores to avoid one person feeling like they’re doing it all. Maybe have one member tackle the dishes, another the trash, and so on. Talking about this before the move-in will help eliminate resentment, anger, and fights.
Cohabitating with your partner’s parents can be tricky. Use the above blog for guidance on living with your in-laws peacefully. Living with them may be easier than expected when you establish boundaries and have help.
