Don't Roll Your Eyes Making In-Laws into Family

by Nemzoff, Ruth

• ISBN13: 9780230338999
• ISBN10: 0230338992
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-09-04
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary

More than two million couples wed every year in the United States, bringing together a whole new family unit. The extended family may now include a hard to please mother-in-law who criticizes her daughter-in-law's childrearing; or a patriarchal father-in-law who expects all the kin round the dinner table every Sunday; or a new spouse, who a year or decade out, still gets shellshock visiting the in-laws. If that wasn't cause enough for a stiff drink, more than a million couples divorce each year, creating hard to define family structures. How do families handle the inevitable friction and how do they make sense of evolving family relationships? Ruth Nemzoff, an expert in family dynamics, empowers family members across the generations to define and create lasting bonds, including how to: *Welcome a new in-law from a different culture and religion into your family. *Not let differences of politics or philosophy impact quality time with the extended family. *Respond to major life changes in an in-law's life, including financial crises, illnesses, or career changes. *Retain warm connections with in-laws even amidst divorce and remarriage. This is a must read for anyone dealing with a difficult in-law as well as anyone who will soon be welcoming a new member to their family.

Author Biography

Ruth Nemzoff is the author of Don't Bite Your Tongue. She is a popular speaker on the topics of parenting adult children and family dynamics. She has been quoted in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Jewish Advocate, and InterFaithFamily.com, among others. A resident scholar at Brandeis University, she lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.ruthnemzoff.com.

Table of Contents

"Indispensable advice! Ruth Nemzoff’s recipe for healthy in-law relationships rests on impeccable research and a wealth of real-life experience, but it is also well-seasoned with a depth of wisdom and common sense that is truly exceptional. Her straightforward strategies make this book the perfect wedding gift—not just for the bride and groom but for their parents and siblings too."--Gina Stepp, Family and Relationships Editor—Vision Media

“Ruth Nemzoff thinks wisely and deeply about family connections.  She presents a carefully nuanced consideration of this oldest of topics.  Don’t Roll Your Eyes has something to teach everyone.  It would make a wonderful gift to any family member and is an essential addition to the bookshelf of any professional working with families.”--Judy Osborne, author of Wisdom for Separated Parents

“With her characteristic wisdom and wit, Ruth Nemzoff treads into the minefield of in-law relationships, from extended families to grandchildren, money, religion, and myriad other issues. She offers examples and expert advice to help us keep in-laws from turning into out-laws. An indispensible field guide for generations on both sides of the in-law divide.”--Mary W. Quigley, www.mothering.21.com, NYU professor and author

 "Dr. Nemzoff's clarity and candor, wit and wisdom really shine through. She is not afraid to tackle any issue, any modern permutation of the extended family in the 21st century."--Joan Wise, former general counsel AARP