50 Of The Best Mothers-In-Law Who Prove The Negative Stereotypes About Them Are Totally Wrong

According to relationship expert Dan, who created The Modern Man project, the issue isn't mothers-in-law, as much as people in general who try to force their way into a couple's relationship.

"Sometimes a mother-in-law forces her involvement in the relationship, decision making and planning for the couple’s future, which some people don’t like. However, in most cases, it’s not so much a mother-in-law per se that is the problem, but another person having too much of a say or presence in a relationship. Some people just don’t like other people being too involved in their relationship, or expecting too much in terms of attention and inclusion in their relationship," he told Bored Panda.

"As a result, a mother-in-law is sometimes seen as a nuisance or a problematic person in popular culture. Yet, in many cases, she just loves her son or daughter and is doing what she thinks will be best for him or her," he explained.

Dan stressed that there's no single simple answer to getting along with one's mother-in-law because they're all different. In short, they're individuals. What matters, however, is putting in the effort to get along, whatever shape or form that might take.

"If a man truly loves and respects his wife, then he will also genuinely respect and love his mother-in-law without feeling like it is a chore. He will naturally feel good about her. That doesn’t mean he has to see his wife’s mother all the time or want her to be a huge part of his life though. Instead, for most men, it simply means allowing her to be a part of the couple’s life as much as his wife wants her to be," the expert pointed out to us the most important things we should be aware of.

"If his wife respects him, then she usually won’t want to annoy or make him unhappy by having her mother become overly involved or present in their day-to-day life. Instead, she will want to ensure a happy balance is maintained, so she doesn’t cause unnecessary problems in her relationship with him. If his wife doesn’t respect him though, then she may not really care how the overly strong presence or involvement of her mother in their life makes him feel," Dan said.

Meanwhile, the expert added that a man who truly loves and respects his wife will also care about and respect her father, his father-in-law. However, he noted that this care and respect should only go as far as is appropriate for the relationship because "some women don’t really like their mother or father and don’t want them to be much of a presence in their life, if at all. So, in some cases, it’s just about caring about and respecting her parents from a distance, rather than trying to become more involved with them when she doesn’t want to be."

Dan told us that each and every relationship is different, but someone who truly loves and respects their partner will naturally want to do what makes them happiest. It shouldn't feel like a chore.