by Joyce Priddy

Created on: April 26, 2007   Last Updated: April 28, 2007

How to cope with relatives who dislike your spouse is pretty straight forward. You made the choice to get married and love your spouse. The majority of time you are not going to change the mind of the relatives who dislike your spouse. You will be on the defensive trying to prove how worthy your spouse truly is. Relatives then have control over you and your marriage.

Take away the control and the power struggle with relatives who dislike your spouse. Be polite and ignore snide and rude comments. It takes more then one person to argue. Ignoring their petty and childish behavior will help the situation the most.

Do not ask your spouse to change who they are. You married them because you love them for who they are. The relatives who dislike your spouse will have to learn to accept that they do not control your life. Love is not controlling and being mean to someone. Your spouse is now part of you. If the relatives are being mean and spiteful then they truly do not understand love.

Love is wanting someone to be happy. Relatives should be there for you if things fall apart. If the relatives are being spiteful and gossiping all the time about your spouse, you might need to cut some ties for a little while. You have to show them that you will not be tolerant of their hateful behaviors.

Your relatives are blood but when they are abusing you emotionally with all their hateful comments, snide remarks and gossip you deserve more. Are they treating you that blood is thicker then water? No. They are putting you in the middle and emotionally abusing you. Love is not emotional abuse. Simply do not tolerate or stay around for the emotional abuse.

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