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Counseling Book Suggestion?

Can anyone suggest a useful marriage counseling book?  DH and I are looking for a counselor to help us learn new skills to deal with his parents.  In the meantime I'm looking for something for something to get us started.

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Re: Counseling Book Suggestion?

  • What's the problem?
    My darling daughter just turned 4 years old.
  • imageGreenMonkey1:

    Can anyone suggest a useful marriage counseling book?  DH and I are looking for a counselor to help us learn new skills to deal with his parents.  In the meantime I'm looking for something for something to get us started.

    More backstory will help.

    So will his standing up to his parents and growing a spine.

  • A friend of mine who has difficulties with his inlaws as well as his own parents recommended the book 'Toxic Inlaws' for me to pick up and read. The title sounds a lot worse than it is....I grabbed it at Borders before they closed, and the book has a lot of useful advice and tips on how to deal with all sorts of scenarios with not just your inlaws, but your own parents. Definitely worth a read for both you and your hubby. Good luck with whatever it is that you guys are going through....
  • imageFuseDiva:
    A friend of mine who has difficulties with his inlaws as well as his own parents recommended the book 'Toxic Inlaws' for me to pick up and read. The title sounds a lot worse than it is....I grabbed it at Borders before they closed, and the book has a lot of useful advice and tips on how to deal with all sorts of scenarios with not just your inlaws, but your own parents. Definitely worth a read for both you and your hubby. Good luck with whatever it is that you guys are going through....

     

    Haha - or just buy the book and then leave it out for your in laws to see chillin' on the coffee table! :) yikes

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  • imagelivinitup:
    What's the problem?

    Generally speaking - My MIL is intrusive, pushy, and a drama queen.  She honestly does care and is a good person.  But (and it can be a big but) when she does not get her way it can be an explosive mess.

    DH does have a spine and does stand up to his Mom.  However, we both agree that a new tactic is needed as we end up dealing with the same behavior just a different permutation.  MIL has gotten better since we got married - lots of boundary setting.  But we're going to TTC soon and know that will bring out behaviors that we don't want to deal with (but will have to).

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • imageGreenMonkey1:

    imagelivinitup:
    What's the problem?

    Generally speaking - My MIL is intrusive, pushy, and a drama queen.  She honestly does care and is a good person.  But (and it can be a big but) when she does not get her way it can be an explosive mess.

    DH does have a spine and does stand up to his Mom.  However, we both agree that a new tactic is needed as we end up dealing with the same behavior just a different permutation.  MIL has gotten better since we got married - lots of boundary setting.  But we're going to TTC soon and know that will bring out behaviors that we don't want to deal with (but will have to).

    'Codependent No More' is all about setting boundaries: http://www.amazon.com/Codependent-No-More-Controlling-Yourself/dp/0894864025. I suggest you and your H get copies and discuss it together.

  • imagecidness:

    imageFuseDiva:
    A friend of mine who has difficulties with his inlaws as well as his own parents recommended the book 'Toxic Inlaws' for me to pick up and read. The title sounds a lot worse than it is....I grabbed it at Borders before they closed, and the book has a lot of useful advice and tips on how to deal with all sorts of scenarios with not just your inlaws, but your own parents. Definitely worth a read for both you and your hubby. Good luck with whatever it is that you guys are going through....

     

    Haha - or just buy the book and then leave it out for your in laws to see chillin' on the coffee table! :) yikes

    Like I said, the title sounds a lot worse than it is....but it actually is full of a lot of helpful advice in dealing with various scenarios. My friend also recommended another book called 'wife's guide to inlaws'. I haven't picked it up because I think this book is enough (for now)

    I?m actually thinking that my hubby should read this book too - aside from giving advice on how to handle his own parents, it might help him with mine. My parents are relatively cool and mind their business, but at the same time they could fall under the 'masters of chaos' category outlined in the book. Not so much that they cause problems in our relationship, but it's just way too much drama going on with them sometimes that winds up getting vented to me, which can be upsetting. It's complicated to really explain. I?m kind of glad I don't live too close to them only because I am removed from most of it.

    You know what....in the end, we all have some kind of baggage....some worse than others ;)

     

  • Thanks for the book suggestions - I'm going to see what I can acquire through the library system in my area.  We could certainly use some situational based suggestions. 

    I've read (and own) "Codependent No More" - great book.  I would really like my husband to read it - I think it would help him be more proactive with his Mom. 

     

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • The best book I have read is "What Do You Want From Me?" It has lots of actual research into why MILs act the various ways that they do.
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