Dr. Laura:
I've been married 24 years and have had a great relationship with my in-laws from the get-go. My mother-in-law is probably one of the kindest people you will ever meet. From the start, she was always there for me, but not in a pushy or annoying way. She is Grandmom to 8 grandchildren, 3 of whom are mine. She spent many hours babysitting, visiting and playing with all the kids when she good. She volunteered in the kids' classrooms, helped with homework, took them to the theater, played games and did arts and crafts with them. We're lucky she lives so close. And she did all this while maintaining a very full personal life - traveling the world, knitting, playing bridge and being social. My father-in-law too spent many hours with the grandchildren, sharing his wisdom and making sure they always had what they needed.
Today, they're both in their eighties and not in great health - she is in early stages of dementia and he is dealing with
COPD. I am happy to say that I am able to repay their many kindnesses by helping to care for them at this stage of their life. Often times, my friends say that I am the "
nicest" daughter-in-law, but I reply that I consider myself lucky to be able to be there for them. My children adore their grandparents and will have many special memories of them from their childhood. I often talk to my kids about "
choosing wisely" when they are looking for a husband or wife. I can only hope that I will be able to be as good a role model for their spouses as well as my mother-in-law has been to me.
Best regards,
Lee Ann
