Logo
    • Education
      • Pre-School
      • Primary Schools Directory
      • Primary Schools Articles
      • P1 Registration
      • DSA
      • PSLE
      • Secondary
      • Tertiary
      • Special Needs
    • Lifestyle
      • Well-being
    • Activities
      • Events
    • Enrichment & Services
      • Find A Service Provider
      • Enrichment Articles
      • Enrichment Services
      • Tuition Centre/Private Tutor
      • Infant Care/ Childcare / Student Care Centre
      • Kindergarten/Preschool
      • Private Institutions and International Schools
      • Special Needs
      • Indoor & Outdoor Playgrounds
      • Paediatrics
      • Neonatal Care
    • Forum
    • ASKQ
    • Register
    • Login

    In-law problems?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Relationships
    5.3k Posts 331 Posters 1.4m Views 1 Watching
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • E Offline
      en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg
      last edited by

      [quote]That said, MIL is a perennial issue for many and I don't think I can escape either. My problems are a little unusual, MIL could not stand my house because it was too nice for her to feel comfortable in it. I can write a story about it. I get slammed for doing a good job in my house, I also get slammed if I get a little messy. [/quote]
      MIL used to be like that. It's definitely better that way. Why? She now suddenly realize how comfortable my place is, she loves my cooking too and what's more, EN drives. EN can be her personal driver too. :faint:

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • E Offline
        Eagle-Ladybird
        last edited by

        ks2me:
        Wife he can replace, mum he cannot ..... Incidentally, I guard my parents the same way, no way can my spouse show disrespect to my parents

        Hahaha, it's so common to hear this notion :lol:

        But jokes aside, as much as most of us would like to think that way (some would even feel strongly that way), there's an alternate view to marriage. Marriage is about 2 persons, \"leaving\" their parents to become one. And this \"leaving\" means emotionally and physically - which means, spouse take precedence over parents after marriage.

        Having said the above, it does not mean married children has to forsake their parents, or compromising filial piety.

        I used to make it a point to back to KL to visit my parents every month. And most of the time, is over the weekend i.e. drive back Friday evening after work, and return by Sunday afternoon. This continue even after my marriage, and my wife is very supportive. I consider myself fairly filial (ah hem), and fairly important to my parents as I'm the only son' šŸ˜›

        But when my wife became pregnant, the frequency of my trip reduces substantially. And when my kids come along, it dwindled to maybe 2/3 times a year. Now, I don't love my parents any lesser, but my priority must be my wife/family - and looking back, that's what it is.

        While it's true that Mum (and Dad) is irreplaceable, we have to learn to \"let go\" as we moved on in life with our life-long partner - and that's what our spouse is meant to be. And this is the hardest part - you have to \"believe\" in it that view, so as to put your spouse first - and I'm still learning :oops:

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • B Offline
          buds
          last edited by

          kiasimom:
          Poor buds,


          I can understand how you feel.
          That's why before I married DH, one of the criteria is NO living with PILs.
          Oh nooo.. no need to poor me. Am just sharing aloud. :oops:
          But you're lucky that you don't even have to begin Day 1 with any adult supervision. Hehee.. šŸ˜‰
          Good for you, really. :celebrate:
          kiasimom:
          It si not easy to live under one roof.
          Your DH is a really fillial son and for fillial son, mom always come first.
          Yes! And IT IS a great thing, really! šŸ˜Ž

          It reflects how strongly mom & son is bonded.
          Hopefully our children are that tight (closely knit) with us too... in future
          when they have lives of their own. We don't have to be the centre of
          their universe, but close at heart and mind and always in prayer wud
          suffice. Like me and my family, though i don't get to see them all the
          time as much as i'd want to... we all keep in touch via email and sms.
          Occasionally, even if hubs doesn't wanna tag along or if he's busy,
          me and the girls will simple call and tell them we wanna drop by to
          catch up on things or let's go out and makan + chat. šŸ˜‰ And when
          we do meet, we'd part with lotsa tight hugs and kisses to last till our
          next meet up. :hugs:

          And frankly, him honestly telling me to my face abt the number 1 thingy...
          if you ask me i actually do not mind it greatlyl.. it's just that it has not been
          a fantastic ride with MIL and it sorta creates stronger frequency \"waves\"
          knowing hubs will always be on her side. I just feel somewhat slighted
          sometimes and i just have to bear with it lest i be chopped petty or whiny..
          which i'm not. šŸ˜‰ Just that sometimes, it feels like she is purposely
          trying to test my boundaries and the limit my patience can take. At times,
          even when i don't say anything, she'd try to provoke by saying something..
          And when i don't reply or just keep quiet cos i do not want to pick up on a
          fight, she'll sigh aloud that i'm rude. So, damned if i do and damned as
          well even if i don't. Eventually, over the years i learn to filter..
          kiasimom:
          They will tell you they have ONE mom only.
          Doesn't everyone? :!:
          kiasimom:
          So take it easy, you will see the light at the end of the tunnel one day.
          I have. All 7yrs of it. And it has only made me stronger as a person.
          So, i suppose indirectly... it was good for me? Hahaa! :lol:
          kiasimom:
          Have faith in GOD and yourself.
          I do. :love:
          kiasimom:
          You can do it! :celebrate:
          Thanks, kiasimom. :hugs:

          I've made it this far didn't i.. :celebrate:

          Guess a few more years down this same road ( šŸ™ ) wouldn't hurt... not that much, i hope... no? :politebleah:

          More bullet-proof perhaps? šŸ˜‰

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • K Offline
            kiasimom
            last edited by

            Exactly buds, you have come a long way and you should have mastered the level of tolerance! Hey hey, don't forget you are a grandmaster III ...kekeke


            You have attained the state of nirvana and no bullets can hurt you.
            I know it irks you but come to think of it, without MIL you won't have hub.

            Hub is the one whom you will spend the rest of your life with. Don't risk your relationship with hub because of MIL.

            We know deep down , we will be the loser no matter how right we are :snuggles:

            Not to worry, you will not walk this path alone, you have many comrades here who will lend you their listening eys, eyes and fingers :celebrate:

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • corneyAmberC Offline
              corneyAmber
              last edited by

              EN:
              [quote]That said, MIL is a perennial issue for many and I don't think I can escape either. My problems are a little unusual, MIL could not stand my house because it was too nice for her to feel comfortable in it. I can write a story about it. I get slammed for doing a good job in my house, I also get slammed if I get a little messy.

              MIL used to be like that. It's definitely better that way. Why? She now suddenly realize how comfortable my place is, she loves my cooking too and what's more, EN drives. EN can be her personal driver too. :faint:[/quote]Unfortunately, mine has no such realisation yet even though everything is indeed better, but there are no major issues, so I can just look over my shoulders and treat these as trivias.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • corneyAmberC Offline
                corneyAmber
                last edited by

                Eagle-Ladybird:


                But jokes aside, as much as most of us would like to think that way (some would even feel strongly that way), there's an alternate view to marriage. Marriage is about 2 persons, \"leaving\" their parents to become one. And this \"leaving\" means emotionally and physically - which means, spouse take precedence over parents after marriage.
                I agree with you on the marriage concept and the vow we took to become one. However in SG where proximity is close, it has its pros and cons. Close enough to get alot of family support when needed but too close for comfort when it comes to imposing on our lifestyles. For me, since I am a mom now, I feel that if I think in terms of a mum's view, I will pretty much leave the mother-son bonding alone and lessen the torn-in-between burden for my dh.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • B Offline
                  buds
                  last edited by

                  foreverj:
                  hi dear buds

                  Heyya there, foreverj. :hugs:
                  Long time no see..
                  foreverj:
                  i've never seen so many sad faces in your posts b4 šŸ˜ž i can feel your sorrow becos sigh, when i was a little girl, i felt the hurt and pain of my mum for having to live with my dad's family. and i mean the entire clan ok? meaning the SILs and the BILS etc, on top of her MIL. and it was for a good 15 years :!: i always salute my mum for taking all that!
                  Err.. i didn realize the many sad faces until you mentioned it. I guess each
                  time i have a flashback reflection moment, i tend to feel that way. Wow!
                  An entire clan! Well, i had a share of that too but i guess i was a little on
                  the young side to remember much during that era.
                  foreverj:
                  stay strong for your two lovely daughters šŸ™‚ bet they must be your greatest comfort!
                  Comfort from the girls? Not when they're notty! Hahaa! :lol:
                  Dun get me wrong, i am... ehem... strong. šŸ˜‰ Have been all this time.
                  Like i said, the flashbacks bring the down feelings la.. it's was like that for
                  as long as i remember and i guess there weren't that many happy ones
                  to overshadow the horrible ones.
                  foreverj:
                  as for your dh, on top of being a filial son, is also at the same time, an excellent husband and father. such men usually comes as a total package. but i'm sure u already know that :love:
                  Suffice to say, the guy friends i've had acquaintance with are mostly the
                  \"mummy's boys\"! :!: :lol:

                  Not sure why... :idea: I suppose a filial guy is husband material?
                  And has strong sense of responsibility for the family i suppose..
                  and it wud indirectly translate that the same guy would have the
                  same sense with his OWN family with his partner and children..

                  As for the package, it didn't come automatically. The other characteristics
                  came in and slowly grew on me... well, we're in a marriage for a long run
                  ain't it? With or without IL issues. So, though things weren't ideal for me
                  and sometimes the children, i just moved on. Like i said, i didn't wanna
                  trouble him over what men usually find are petty. So, most times i usually
                  don't even say anything... he won't believe me anyway. I mean if it were
                  our own mum, realistically we'll go.. hey, that's my mum you're talking abt
                  ya know... and one usually retracts into protective zone. Despite the hard
                  time MIL was giving me and i wud go tell myself, \"How did i get myself into
                  this...\" each time... i try not to associate that with hubs. Over the years, he
                  had grown to be a much better man.

                  I have told him before what i felt for him.. despite our uncountable differences..

                  That i see him as my best friend.. someone i can confide in and talk about
                  absolutely anything under the sun.. that i can share my inside outs with &
                  he would understand.. and that he won't be judgmental on me, cos he's
                  my best friend.

                  That over time, he showed that he was a great and patient lover.. who
                  took the time to love, to drown and to immerse me in with his tenderness..
                  and showered passionate care over my emotional well-being, making sure
                  things were good with me.. and us..

                  That over a longer period of time, he learnt and showed that he was the
                  great father that he is... being there for the girls. And occasionally, i'm
                  secretly proud that he's mine and bear close resemblance to my own
                  father whom i'm extremely very close to..

                  I do not want to slight him for the inconveniences that MIL has brought
                  upon me.. Even if there were occasions her imposing truly strained our
                  marriage.. I just held on..

                  Unhappy as i may be with this arrangement, when i married hubs.. he was
                  my new life.. STILL IS. A new life where i thought we could immerse in our
                  selves... be ourselves... do stuff ourselves... lead ourselves without having
                  to have to involve our parents too much in this new life we have created
                  for ourselves.

                  No. Having my mountain of issues with MIL and only petty bits with the rest..
                  Does not constitute to hubs being a bad friend, husband, lover or father
                  to me and my children. He is his own person.

                  Time and again, i've tried to show MIL... tell MIL indirectly that my
                  presence was never to take her son away from her.. For God's sake, we
                  have been together since then and still is. So, i honestly dun understand
                  her attitude towards me. Except i suppose i wasn't exactly her first choice
                  in her self-constructed DIL list. Her pretentious-ness bugs me many times
                  before... when we first married, but now after the filtering... it can be
                  brushed aside as a normality and petty, by phishing it out the left ear.

                  I guess it can depress me much, when after accommodating the ILs so
                  much, i seem to be like a thorn. If so, then they reali should've told hubs
                  upfront that he shouldn't marry me in the first place. Not being close to
                  my own mom, i was excited when i entered this marriage to have another
                  mom, whom i thought i could be close with..... cos she was VERY different
                  before we got married. I diffused stories told by friends and relatives on
                  those typical horror IL stories and gave my ILs chances to let time show
                  itself. The sarcasm, the stuff they say behind my back and everything else
                  just kept growing pushing me to corners where i couldn't hide any longer
                  and eventually breaking down my spirit. But still it's ok.. i have hubs with
                  me. And i love him to bits.
                  foreverj:
                  take care buds! and God bless u and family!
                  Hard as it may be, i've gone this far to give up. Trust me. I've reached
                  the point of throwing in the towel too many a time.. but that new patch
                  of grass on thee other side? Would i know if it would be any better? I
                  won't. There are no guarantees. So, just suck it up and soldier on... šŸ˜„
                  and *gulp*.... i guess? :lol:

                  Thanks foreverj for reaching in the pit of your tummy to tell me you care.
                  I appreciate it much and feeling very touched. :hugs: See ya around. šŸ˜Ž

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • B Offline
                    buds
                    last edited by

                    mathsparks:
                    GreenQ:


                    After my fil passed away, mil (has 2 sons) stays with her elder son who earns more than my DH in week days. She will stay with us in weekend.

                    She rents out her whole hdb unit for abt 1.8k per mth. So she is financially independence. Gd decision, right? šŸ™‚

                    At least gd for her 1st dil, coz she is working. So when she rest at home during weekend, mil is with me. Then for me, good too as I only meet her during weekend, so less conflicts. šŸ™‚

                    The best arrangement anyone could ask for, greenq. count your blessings, girl.

                    Are we gonna miss the snowman's humour come summer.. :lol:

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • B Offline
                      buds
                      last edited by

                      mathsparks:
                      Dear buds, you're not alone in your unhappy arrangement. Here's mine:


                      I've 4 rooms - a small one for the maid+storage (my poor maid..at least she gets her own privacy), 1 for the mil, I've a tween boy and a teen girl. thot of converting the study area for the boy..but its just an area outside the master bedroom without its own doors. go figure. and the annual cny gathering....haiz. šŸ˜ž

                      cant say more coz dh reads the forum ...he's a lurker too. said he's signed up but forgot his userid. duh! its definitely not mathshub?? coz that's in Bt Batok.

                      Oh yes, buds, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. We just have to be patient. :hugs:
                      It's fine to stay together but just dowan any nonsense can anot? :lol:

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • B Offline
                        buds
                        last edited by

                        ks2me:
                        Dear buds, the day I decided to get married, I had already accepted that there would be no contesting with THE MUM.

                        Ermmm... ks2me... there wasn't a contest to begin with. Even if there was,
                        it would be a contest she conjured up on her own. I wanted her as my
                        best friend! She was very nice when i first knew her as a bf's mom... and
                        i honestly didn't know it turned 360 degrees when we became official...
                        Now, that's sad.. šŸ˜ž
                        ks2me:
                        Wife he can replace, mum he cannot so if I don't want to deal with that thought, I would have stayed happily single. That is my philosophy else I should be single. Incidentally, I guard my parents the same way, no way can my spouse show disrespect to my parents.
                        If there isn't an issue to a contest in the first place, there can never be an
                        issue of replacement. Gosh no! Being married is an add-on... not minus off.
                        I would have happily stayed single had i known she didn't like me.. :lol:
                        It is an unspoken trait that one should never disrespect elders. šŸ˜„

                        I never was disrespectful or if i had, it never meant to come out that way
                        intentionally. But respect is earned and a 2-way thing.. It proves as a
                        challenge when one seems to strive all out to make things difficult for
                        another knowing full well, there is no room to tolerate disrespect. :stupid:
                        ks2me:
                        That said, MIL is a perennial issue for many and I don't think I can escape either. :lol: My problems are a little unusual, MIL could not stand my house because it was too nice for her to feel comfortable in it. I can write a story about it. I get slammed for doing a good job in my house, I also get slammed if I get a little messy. So it is damned if I do and damned if I don't. :lol: And she does not even live with us! :lol:

                        As for my kid, she seems too \"Little Miss Perfect\" for her liking too. As recent as 2 days ago, she told me to dress down my kid and the reasons given were not even worth mentioning here. :roll: Why do I have to put up with such crap, I ask myself.. šŸ˜‰
                        Guess, yer MIL find it hard to swallow da all in one miss perfect.. :hugs:
                        ks2me:
                        Despite all these, I focus on the goodness in her. She can be very helpful at times and I still see her as kind despite the one-kind mouth. :celebrate: to you! Life is still good la....just some tiny flaws here and there.


                        Yep. Life can be good.. and it can be better too. Just program to delete
                        the spams lor.. :celebrate: Erm.. the goodness in her part.... :idea:....
                        guess mine will come soon.
                        ks2me:
                        And oh..this mum and son bond is not breakable, don't bother to try.
                        Don't intend to.. never intended to.
                        ks2me:
                        I suppose now as parents, I can appreciate this fact even better, if turn around our kids and us, I think we would also like our kids to bond with us more than with their spouses if they can help it especially those with boys. šŸ˜‰
                        Girls or boys, it doesn't matter. The fact that he's got that bond with his
                        mom goes to show how good she has raised her boy. And yes, i agree
                        anyone would like for their children to have close bonds with their families.
                        It is a good thing. Extended families are supposed to offer extended and
                        bountiful happiness... no? And each time IL topics come up in those once in
                        a blue moon get-togethers with other gfs.. we never fail to tell each other;
                        to remind one another that should the creepy unbecoming IL trait tries to
                        show itself in anyone of us, we should be told in the face to cut the crap. šŸ˜‰

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0

                        Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.

                        Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.

                        With your input, this post could be even better šŸ’—

                        Register Login
                        • 1
                        • 2
                        • 29
                        • 30
                        • 31
                        • 32
                        • 33
                        • 528
                        • 529
                        • 31 / 529
                        • First post
                          Last post



                        Online Users
                        WordWizardsW
                        WordWizards

                        Statistics

                        4

                        Online

                        210.9k

                        Users

                        34.3k

                        Topics

                        1.8m

                        Posts
                        Popular Topics
                        New to the KiasuParents forum? Tips and Tricks!
                        Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools
                        DSA 2026
                        PSLE Discussions and Strategies
                        How much do you spend on the kids' tuition/enrichments?
                        SkillsFuture + anything related to upskilling/learning something new!

                          About Us Contact Us forum Terms of Service Privacy Policy