Why So Many Women Struggle To Set Boundaries With Their Mother-In-Law

"That means you probably have firsthand experience in trying to set boundaries and learning how difficult it can be, especially when you're trying not to step on your partner's family's toes. In her forthcoming book You, Your Husband & His Mother, psychologist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish explains why even "high-performing women" who handle conflict all the time can struggle to set boundaries in their in-law relationships."

""It's so interesting to work with women who are CEOs, who are directors, who are in the military, who run their own businesses, who have four, six children, and they all struggle to set boundaries with their mother-in-law," she tells Scary Mommy in an interview. Let's say your MIL always shows up unannounced, makes weird comments you don't agree with around your kids, or offers unsolicited advice on how you parent. You want to speak up, maybe you mentally prepare a script, but you just... can't."

Roughly half of Americans report conflicts with their mothers-in-law, making boundary-setting a common challenge. Setting boundaries can be difficult even for women who routinely handle conflict professionally. Typical triggers include unannounced visits, awkward comments around children, and unsolicited parenting advice. The difficulty often stems from a desire to be liked and to gain approval from in-laws. Generational differences and changing gender roles create friction around mental load, parenting approaches, and household dynamics. Even when someone mentally prepares a script, the instinct to avoid disapproval can prevent them from speaking up and asserting limits.

Read at Scary Mommy