My row mate, in her window seat with no one directly next to her, decided to strike up a conversation. She was an attractive young woman … a pharmacist, excited about her impending nuptials to another young, black pharmicist. She had that glow, but there was more to it.
As an addendum to the fairytale, she shared that she hates her soon-to-be mother or “monster-in-law,” as was the term used in the Jennifer Lopez/Jane Fonda movie. Yes, hates her. She proceeded to call her a liar, a manipulator and a drama queen and fantasized about “taking her out.” At first, I thought she meant to dinner, but she said, “no…take her OUT!” And to protect the innocent, I’ll stop my disclosure there. The conversation though, begs the question: how much wedded bliss can one have when there’s in-law disdain?
No, you’re not marrying the parents of your fiance’/fiancee, but they will be permanent fixtures in the relationship — unless someone gets cut off. With that, dealing with a father-in-law is one thing, but a mother-in-law on the husband’s side is something completely different, because there’s that “no woman is good enough for my son” syndrome. Can it work … or is the marriage doomed to failure?
Sound off with your successful or unsuccessful monster-in-law stories … I’m just curious. –gerald radford
