IN-LAWS

Do you have a strained relationship with your mother-in-law? Are you worried that it's going to hurt your marriage with your spouse if you can't get along with family? If so, help is on the way.

Are obstacles such as in-laws, divorce, blended families, and basic differences standing in the way of your relationship? Here's some advice on how couples can deal with them.

During the holidays, not only do we get to spend a lot of time with our families, as an added bonus, we get to spend more time with our in-laws.

The Holidays are not easy for a lot of us.  For many suddenly being put together with relatives or in-laws or even certain friends, or maybe having no one to be with, all of these combinations plus the memories the holidays evoke and the yearnings of anticipation set us up for a miserable time. How can we overcome this scenario and have a great time? Here are are some solutions based on real people.

Why are in-law relationships so difficult? While some would suggest it's pure jealousy, I think it's more complex. Here are four steps useful for handling tense "in-law" situations this holiday season.

My husband and I come from different worlds. He comes from solid Midwestern stock. They repress their feelings, eat casserole and play baseball. My family? We're a mess of anxiety disorders, we listen to Gilbert and Sullivan and our favorite sport is Chinese Checkers. So, the moment Dave proposed, and I said "yes," I knew I had to do something.

By Deanna Atkins for Cupid’s Pulse We all laughed at Ben Stiller’s struggle to remain in his fiancé’s father’s &ldqu

Have you ever dated a guy and for the most part, things are good? He’s smart, funny, and attractive. He hits most of your major “must haves” however; there is one thing that bothers the hell out of you…. His mother! Does it seem like she is always around, sticking her nose into your relationship with him? She is needy and constantly calls him no matter how minor or severe the crisis of the day may be? She comes over unannounced, cooks cleans and does his laundry.

Often, couples therapy carries a negative stigma, preventing many from reaping its benefits. But there are plenty of reasons couples go to therapy, outside the threat of splitting up.

The holidays are ripe for unearthing family dramas, often featuring a popular story line about competing loyalties. Though there are variations on the plot, the focus here will be on this dynamic as it plays out with men and their mothers.

My mother-in-law is great. Thoughtful, helpful, smart, and not the least bit annoying to hang out with — even over long periods of time. And no, I'm not just saying this because she might stumble upon this article online! When I hear all the horror stories from my friends, I thank my lucky stars that I somehow managed to snag not only the perfect guy — but a great mother-in-law to boot. Sorry to brag, but, trust me, she's worth bragging about! So how did she become so awesome? Well, she gives all the credit to her own mother-in-law — who, she claims, was the best mother-in-law ever. And every day, she says, she tries to live by her example.

The Mother-in-Law (MIL)/Daughter-in-Law (DIL) relationship is often very complex for a variety of reasons. My own experience has been great, though it wasn’t always easy. My Mother-in-Law, Terry, is wonderful! She warmly welcomed me into the family, she has always been supportive, fairly undemanding (I'll have to explain that one to her!), and has worked harder than anyone I have ever seen to develop and maintain relationships with me, her oldest son’s wife, her daughter’s husband and all of her grandchildren. She is truly an inspiration and I have often told her that she should write a “how-to” book for other Mothers-in-Law. (We’re actually considering working on one together!)

Summer 2011 officially comes to a close next Monday, September 5, and we're all looking forward to relaxing during the long weekend. With a multitude of party ideas to choose from, it can be quite overwhelming for couples to decide what to do for Labor Day. So we here at YourTango compiled some of our favorite festivities inspirations, perfect for any couple looking to spend quality time with each other and their family and friends.

Are you having trouble getting on with your in-laws? You are not alone! The trials and tribulations of trying to live in any kind of peace with your partner's family has been a source of woe for hundreds of years. But knowing that loads of other people have trouble with their in-laws is not much help to you in dealing with your in-laws.

Once you're sure you and your boyfriend are on the same page, let your boyfriend give his parents a list of items you've agreed to keep and a list you'd like for his parents to get rid of before you move in. For your part, you can send them a thank you note a month or so before you move in sincerely thanking them for the items you and your boyfriend have decided to keep.

This weekend, Kate Middleton got to know her future royal family a little better at the wedding of a close friend of her fiance, Prince William. People reports that Middleton and Prince William joined Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice and Middleton’s future in-laws at the wedding of Harry Aubrey-Fletcher to the Honorable Sarah Louise Stourton on Saturday. Kate Middleton, who turned 29 on Sunday, will get married to Prince William on April 29 at Westminster Abbey. What are some ways to impress your future family? Cupid’s Advice: