Desi Mothers-in-law
Most married desi women I know have expressed their discontent with the interference from their in-laws at some point of their life. Some feel this encroachment on regular basis as they live in joint families and those living in nuclear families in different cities still claim long distance remote control effect on their lives. There are numerous desi blogs and forums where women are discussing these issues and seeking support and solutions from one another. Some members suggest paying back in the same coin using tit for tat tactics because most spouses do not rise to the occasion and protect their wives. This makes me wonder if this passive aggressive behavior will remedy the situation or will just push a person into a spiral of emotional turmoil.
The mother-in-law problem is not unique to India/South Asia even in west women report this problem. What make it different for South Asians/Indians are our family structure and social economy. The lack of alternative structures of social support and old age care makes it inevitable for conjugal families to check any development of strong affection between the newly married couple. The fear of loosing economic support from sons makes rest of his family act in funny ways to disturb his married life. Instead of acting from love and kindness towards the new bride they target all their energies in dislodging her even before she is settled. Desi women feel trapped in these murky waters because the premium placed on marriage and lack of other support structures prevents them from leaving.
The other reason of this family feud between female conjugal kin is related to the lack of opportunities to power. In desi communities men have more power outside the homes but senior women within the homes have control over the lives of children, younger men and incoming women. The women who have lived timid lives blossom into dominant figures once their sons attain adulthood. They not only emotionally manipulate their sons but also have the ability to instigate the sons against their fathers to avenge the injustices mounted on them during their youth (refer Dilip Kaur Tiwan’s Sahitya Academy award winner Eh Hamara Jiwana). Such behavior is not limited to house wives even professionally successful mothers-in-law resort to such tactics. One may wonder why professionally successful women need to act so mean towards their daughters-in-laws. The taste of absolute power over another person is exhilarating; also it speaks volumes about a person self doubts, low self esteem and mistrust for the sons they raised.
Emotionally abusive and manipulative MILs have low self esteen and are alway busy in keeping up with the Jones. They live their lives in bitterness. They are unhappy most of the times so all they exude is unhappiness. They are drama junkies, they’ll create a scene about anything under the sun, even if something happens in Mrs. Sharma’s home it becomes about them. Every thing is about them. If you said you gained weight they’ll tell you they gained more than you. If you said you were slim in your youth they’ll contend they were slim to the extent of emaciation. Their need for attention and assurance is never ending and exhusting for people around them. Their loved ones are trying to buy peace from them at all costs. They try to keep this species of MILs calm and contended. But it is never sufficient. When a DIL comes this burden falls on her and other family members too feel now it should be DIL’s job to serve MIL and keep her happy.It becomes easy for them to exonarate themselves from this responsibility and pile blames on the DIL for MILs displeasure. It is not that the circumstances have made MIL critical and unhappy rather they chose to act so. They are pleasant and good when they want to be. Their most time is spent in drama so even when they are genuinely normal it is hard to believe and one may fear what may trigger another dramatic attack.
These MILs claim to love their sons and want them to be happy. Th eir formula of happiness for their son does not include his wife. When ever the son is feeling normal in his married life they get a panic attack. Their dialogues are- “Something is happening to me. My heart is sinking, I am dying.” “I feel I’ll die alone you will not care for me in my old age.” Religion is another tool in their arsenal, they claim to fast or pray for the long life of their sons. My friend Anu’s MIL fasts every full moon day for the health and long life of her son. If there happens to be an invitation for a party on the fullmoon day she’ll prepone or postpone the fast. The food becomes more important than the health of her son. The sons of such mothers harbor secret hatered for womenkind especially their mothers but are unable to verbalize it as it will be considered sacreligious. So they turn this hatred to their spouses in the form of emotional, verbal or physical abuse. If they ever stand up for their spouses their mothers’ start with “I gave you birth…” These sons have not learned to cope with this regular drama so when they are confronted with some marital issue their response is usually fight or flight. When they fight they become their own mothers and when they resort flight they become arctic pole. The daughters of such mothers are true copies of their mothers, drama junkies and codependents. They create a lot of drama to get what they want. They also create hardships for their sisters-in-law. If they are married they’ll create hardships for their spouse just like their mothers. This is the reason you feel overwhelmed even if you are with just one family memeber. Also it is family pattern to act alike.
Not all women are powerless at all times and not all men are powerful at all times. The ideal of unquestioned generational reverence is one of the ways to maintain hierarchy within families and allocate power to women over other women and younger men. This helps in checking women’s revolt against male dominance in every day lives and in public sphere. This anticipated power at certain age acts like a carrot for women to strive for becoming a mother-in-law.
There is another rare species of mothers-in-law who are supportive of their daughters-in-law. They not only love them and help them in developing a bond with their husbands but also raise their children. Some of these rare specie MILs are committed to making it better for their DILs as opposed to their own MILs and others in this genre are relatively secure with who they are, they do not have to make another person feel bad in order to feel better about themselves. Such MILs are calm and contended with their lives. They live their lives peacefully and know their boundaries. Even when they disagree with some thing they have a functional way of addressing the issue than creating a drama. If you find such a MIL please respect her and appreciate her.She does not need anything from you other than respect affection and kindness. Tell others about her so that they are motivated to be like her.
My God. I never sought help from Internet till this day. Thank God I did. I am a mother of 2 yr old boy. Happy with my husband. But it is my in laws who drive my crazy , make my cry and irritate the hell out of me. I am quite outspoken to all but till last week I never used to speak directly to them. I used to vent it out to my husband. I thought it was the decent thing to do. I thought it would be reciprocated the same way back. Hell no. I sometimes think I should just adjust along and shouldn have said anything to my husband as it caused strain in our relationship. To start with they made my BIL who was older than me by 2 years stay with us after marriage. My husb told bil would never interfere in our matters. Except that the case wasnt. He started causing problems i used to keep quiet and tell it to my husband and not to my bil. It burst forth and i wanted him to live separately. to this my in laws made a big fuss and they insulted me and my husband. Later i got conceived and on the same day of finding the news that bastard (bil) abused me verbally for not being able to stick to some plan of going to their native place. The worst part is that my husband not standing up for me. To this day, I am not able to overcome that incident where i wept and wept. Later fil and mil started extracting money from my husband like leeches. he used to give them without my knowledge. whenever i intervened fights broke out like hell. The day i gave birth, they never asked how i were doing in the ICU. i feel so bad. They just wanted the baby. mil made a comment to my mom about not committing any sin and thats y they (?!?!?!) got a boy baby. That was such a dirty thing to say and i dont know how almighty is going to punish her for that comment. we r two girls for my mom. I dont know how my kid became theirs. They didn spend a penny for our marriage but they helped bil for his wedding and made us give 4 lacs also. Six months back i was diagnosed wid multinodular goiter in my thyroid and they wanted to take my thyroid out. but i am trying to follow some natural treatments. I visited a healer where he said i have missed a lot of sleep (which i did waking up 5 to 6 times to feed my son) and wanted me to get some sleep. so my husband takes care of our little one at night. so due to this my son is attached to my husband more. mil saw that my husb is taking care my son and she comments a lot about that. i never retaliate back. but last week she asked me to give my son to my husband meaning that my husb will take care of him best. i was so upset i went inside my room. My husb spoke to mil she made such a big scene and started yelling that she has observed that I am waiting for opportunities to pick up fight. not one not two but three years. fil tells me that i am torturing his son. i got so mad that i burst forth and told everything to their face. they kept quiet. they didn expect that from me. Now i feel guilty that i shouldn have shouted back. got so angry left in laws place. but my husb still speaks dearly to his parents. They made a big scene crying and trying to make me feel guilty. My god. I didn know i was getting to such a mess when i decided to marry. I sometimes feel married life is not worth all this. my husb is very loving except standing up part. this is the first time i am opening up bottled feelings of three years. what shall i do ??? i don want to get trapped by all this. plssssssssss help me.
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@Adhirai,
Welcome to GGTS, a safe space.
Sorry about what you are going through. Just know that you are not alone, many before you and many after you will go through this but you are just one YOU, you have.
Sending man’s sibling or his parent to live with the new couple is a way to dislodge any bonding they may develop in privacy. Mission accomplished your BIL did exactly that. There were no boundaries hence he walked all over you. It was none of his business how and when you conceive but he made it and so did it everyone besides you and your spouse.
In-laws seeking financial aid from their well earning son, that was the reason they raised and educated him, he is their retirement insurance. When you both are not on the same page this is what happens. Did you guys discuss what were your goals for this marriage? https://girlsguidetosurvival.wordpress.com/all-about-relationships/ask-before-marrying/
Your MIL saying your spouse is a better caregiver of your son. AGREE with her, tell her she did a good job of raising a caring parent for her grand child. You did not bring the baby in dowry from your parents’ home. It is as much his child and he should do that.
Your MIL saying she did not commit any sins so she is blessed with male grand child. Pity her, just tell her today even a 5yr old today knows how babies are made this idiot of a woman believes in cock and bull stories. What a pity, Indians are at the verge of landing on mars and you MIL are still living in dark ages.
That vicious woman stabbed you with her words once but you will keep stabbing yourself with those same words for months and years to come.
Of course they are his parents he is going to talk to them lovingly. What is the problem here? Oh, the problem is you and him are not on the same page. So you yelled at him and now are feeling guilty. You are a victim of emotional blackmail.
Educate DG, what kind of love is it where a spouse cannot protect his/her partner from vicious attacks of their parents? It is not love but convenience, to kiss you when it is convenient and drop you like a hot potato when mommy turns on the heat. Get you equation right with your spouse.
Pick and chose your battles focus on your health let all other things take a back seat. Work on your primary relationship.
There are numerous posts on this blog read them carefully along with comments you’ll find lots of answers you are looking for.
Please share this message of hope with anyone who may benefit.
Peace,
Desi Girl
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Dear DG,
I ‘ve had my kid and going to move to husband’s place soon.Needless to mention,prime place occupied by MIL and bro-in-law looking to get married soon.My problem is I can’t stand either of them.I can manage my husband,he is passive-aggressive,more passive than aggressive and he doesn’t cause me much trouble as such.I hate my MIL for being able to live with her sons whereas my kind and loving parents are by themselves.I got married at 32 and didn’t have much choice.I would have selected a person without this baggage but was unsuccessful at finding a good person like that.Now I don’t know what to do for the life of me.I would not mind leaving but lack the courage to do so.Although I try to adjust,already,I can’t stand it and the contrast with my own home.It is not a new life at all.I had no idea this guy would stick to his mom.I live most of the time pining for my parents and home.I got married just so my younger sister could do it too.There seemed no way to managing that without my sacrifice.I ‘ve told my parents many times and they have allowed me to stay at their house for a long time,but this can’t work anymore.I have nothing but regret.
@anumol24,
Welcome to GGTS, a safe space.
It is a sad state that you like many women were rushed into marriage and had to settle for less. All DG could see is you are resentful of the fact that your spouse enjoying the company and comfort of his natl family and you not being able to do so. Do you think the parents who wanted you out so that the way was clear for the marriage for other daughter will be joyous of having you back? We all are resentful of patriarchy for its double standards and privileges is it affords to men and their families but don’t do much to challenge it in everyday life.
Why will you even settle for passive behavior from your spouse (it is either martyr complex or he is buying peace) you are equal partners in this journey called marriage? You need to talk and how and when is all given on GGTS in various posts and pages, it is for free for anyone to use. Any personalized solutions are nominally charged service.
If you want to take care of your parents then it is your right and you should be able to communicate it clearly to your spouse https://girlsguidetosurvival.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/desi-son-obligated-to-take-care-of-mother/
Browse around GGTS including comments and get some perspective on what is happening in your life.
Please share this message of hope with anyone who may benefit.
Peace,
Desi Girl
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My situation seems slightly different. Mil will never openly admit she doesnt approve of me n will vv silently expect me to b dil of her time that is cook feed husband gv importance n respect to the male members of the family wear saris or at least indian. I used to actually hear her muttering unflattering stuff abt me u der her breath. Husband somehow thinks I hv a problem if I cant get along with his sis n family. They r supposed to be overflowing with love n care n I am a psycho who cant see that.
@mini,
Welcome to GGTS, a safe space.
Yes, desi men have lofty ideas about their natal family members, they can do no wrong if they can then it is not that serious that you are making it big. The senior lady has nothing better to do than slyly utter under her breath been there and seen that. If DG had to live there any longer she would have put an end to it one day by just standing up and saying it in full view, “mummyji you said something, I did not hear it could you please repeat yourself. He is my husband my equal not my son that I’ll care for him like you do.” Honestly speaking there is no other way out than stand up and put an end to this for once and all this is all I learned.
Please share this message of hope with anyone who may benefit.
Peace,
Desi Girl
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It seems that Desi moms expect their sons to take on the role of their husband. If their husbands are still alive, why don’t they ask all of the things from him, (including the attention and affection) that they are asking from their sons? The son’s primary attention and affection is naturally meant for his wife, not his mother. The mother is to get attention and affection and whatever else she wants from her own husband.
Why isn’t this happening?
For the widowed mothers, why don’t they try online dating for seniors or meeting the widowers or older divorced, unmarried men in their neighborhoods?
@Yogini,
Welcome to GGTS, a safe space.
Please browse around GGTS and you’ll find answers to all your questions.
Here are some links and pay attention to comments too.
You asked Why isn’t this happening?
For the widowed mothers, why don’t they try online dating for seniors or meeting the widowers or older divorced, unmarried men in their neighborhoods?
You know the answer so DG need not answer. Desi divorced men will easily find a never married women but will avoid marrying another divorcee. Thanks to hammered down patriarchal thinking where a woman with mind and experience is considered threat to family and male dominance.
Please share this message of hope with anyone who may benefit.
Peace,
Desi Girl
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Why do Desi Moms have to talk to their kids upwards of 4 times a day? This just irks me to no end. And now, I’ve just had a talking to from my SIL because my MIL is hurt that I’m mad. No, I’m not mad, I just decided to have a normal relationship with my inlaws. Life is too short for me to sit around for HOURS on end listening to a conversation I can’t understand just because it’s my husband’s family. They don’t speak English, I don’t speak Urdu. Oh well. I will find other ways to spend my time. Now, I am MAD!!! I’m not Desi but my husband is. She is a kind woman but jeez, leave me alone already!
@Maria,
Welcome to GGTS, a safe space.
Most desis have problems with boundaries and being in their own company. There is a reason for this as elder care is not sponsored by state or external agencies it is imperative that older generation keeps the young dependent or keep their attention engaged on self.
Settle this matter for once and all by making it clear to her and other women in the family that it is not all about her/them. You don’t understand the language and it is not obligatory for you to be part of one sided conversations. Ideally your spouse should be advocating for you as he has the history with his mother.
Next time take a book with you when you sit in the jenana. Let it seem disrespectful but stick to your grounds.
Below are two links may be they explain better.
Please share this message of hope with anyone who may benefit.
Peace,
Desi Girl
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I can relate with each and every word written here… It’s been over three years that I’m facing this kind of situation.
My MIL just can’t stand seeing me and my husband together. Due to legal issues involved, we decided to live away from the house he bought for her… but alas even after getting a separate home, he is ‘REMOTE CONTROLLED’ by my MIL, BIL, his wife and SIL.
To top it, there’s financial angle involved. Everyone in the family is earning well, including my MIL who draws a good amount of money being a war widow…. yet my husband pays all the bills of that house and gives money to his brother regularly in spite of knowing the fact that we need to buy a new house for us and the money he is spending on them is simply to help them lead a more luxurious life.
It’s frustrating…. in my opinion, giving money is not bad… but it should be given if someone is in need… not when the other person wishes to go out and enjoy the luxuries of life.
I’m the BAD woman of the house who separated a SON from his MOTHER, BROTHER and SISTER!
Just wanted to know how bad I really am.
and
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i’m in a similar situation and i think i am the bad one. funny. a wife/dil who says anything that involves the word money in it is bad. she is to just sit there and serve them and be happy at how lucky she is to have them. she is not to make demands or her husband will be the poor guy with a overbearing wife. only his family can ask their great son who is such a good so because he always gives them money whenever they ask, and of course they don’t forget to praise him. of course they also don’t forget to do their daily homework, which is to keep putting comments in the son’s head about his wife to make sure his money/loyalty has nothing to do with her. and the son is such a good son, they did such a great job raising him, that he repeats and believes everything they say to him. He never matures to realize that his family is his wife and kids and they are humans too. All this garbage about money is so well implanted in his head, that his alarm automatically goes off when the kids/wife need something that has to do with money( that he can afford or should be getting them anyways). How wasteful, it’s cheaper back home, we don’t have time for that, I don’t have money for that, too expensive, and all the other excuses. But let his dear mother ask him right now for something that he cannot afford, and I guarantee that the mission will be accomplished. And that bad, stupid, nagging, greedy, wife is looking like she has a problem with this again. Look at her face. He can read it by now.
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Hey even I have similar kind of MIL and SIL . I am married since last 1 year .Initially I and my Husband used to get into fight and He used to force me to do things which his mother used to demand (unreasonable).We even stayed apart for 2 to 3 months in a year of our marriage. After that we some how agreed and started counseling and after counseling he stopped forcing me but My husband is always in guilt of not doing certain things for his family. His mother starts crying or stops talking to him. If certain which she wants are not fulfilled. My husband always stays in tension and and guilt because of it sometimes even if we talk about small issues ,it get turns into bigger issues and His reaction is like “Main pehle se hi itna tension me hun and all” which also makes sense to me, I can see him in pressure. As I love him after seeing him in pressure I feel like I shud do what his mother wants. But later on I have a fear that it will become a habit. and later on I will be suffering. I don’t understand how to deal wid such situation . I also don’t want to do certain things at the cost of my self respect. And also can’t see my husband in such anxiety and guilt. His mother is a drama queen.She will never stop doing drama.And I can’t even make my husband understand that.Don’t know what to do.. Seeking your help.
Thanks in Advance
Akanksha
@Akanksha,
Welcome to GGTS, a safe space.
Welcome to crazy world of desi marriages. 🙂 Now you know you are not alone. It is great to hear that you went for couple’s counseling in the first year of your marriage. It is a very rare phenomenon in desi context. CONGRATULATIONS! This means you both are committed to make it work. 🙂
…As I love him after seeing him in pressure I feel like I shud do what his mother wants. But later on I have a fear that it will become a habbit. and later on I will be suffering…
Yes, it is manipulating you into doing something you don’t feel is right by inducing guilt, it is called emotional blackmail. Person does not have to word it, they can go around pouting, sulking and giving you silent treatment to make you guilty. It is like, “oh I am hurting so much, only you can ease my pain by doing what I want.” Yes, it will become a habit over time and it will hard to break. If it is making you unhappy doing X one time just imagine how unhappy you will be after you have done X for nth times. 🙂
Every time you give in to his sad face you are teaching him just sulk a little and pout a little and Akanksha will do the back flips to make you happy. It is arm twisting, he is teaching you how do to things for him and you are teaching him you NO has no value all he has to do is twist you arm by pouting and sulking…
Browse around GGTS and see what DG offered to other women comment writers and what they felt worked.
Hope this helps, keep us informed. Sharing breaks isolation and together we can find solutions 🙂
Peace,
Desi Girl
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I completely agree with you. I am truly blessed as I am one of (very) few lucky ones who has a MIL who is a real darling, my MIL always takes my side no matter what (even when I am in the wrong ;)). She loves me very much and never once in my 12 years of married life, I have ever experienced anything negative from her side. There was once a fight between me and my husband and my MIL got up and stood in front of my husband like an angry tigress, she said “One more word and I will throw you out”, she said this by holding me close to her. She is my mom, not my MIL. I love her to death. Love your blog, I salute you, you are amazing person and I respect the work that you are doing in rehabilitating abused women.
Good luck
Deepa
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So very true. Something that is supposed to be a natural behavior is glorified. I love your blog.
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U r so damn lucky deepa I hv always dreamed of a mil like yours wht an invaluable support system u hv in a system where husbands cn be so insensitive n removed from what a wife or woman goes thru…
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Adding on to my link, I just wanted to add how retraumatizing it is to tell another Indian man about your toxic mom. They don’t want to believe it, they dismiss you, they invalidate you, they accuse you of generalizing all Indians…This is why I chose not to date Indian men anymore. I need someone to support me and understand how my mom has affected me.
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It’s like when you try to reach out for help, and some Indian man just slaps you. I remember an Indian man on yahoo getting mad at me for generalizing all Indian moms to be controlling. What? I was just trying to find other Indians in my situation.
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good you made your choice of not dating Indians. Indian Relatives, neighbors, in-laws, bf’s, police etc are not your friends. They pretend to be only if you are of some use to them. You hear of peer pressure, depression, suicides, anger, drugs, violence etc among kids – yea its the parents who are behind it… they’v wasted many lives.
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Gallas, thanks. It’s always great to hear validation. I don’t mean to say that all Indians are bad, but it’s nice to have a safe place where we can talk about the dysfunction. 🙂
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funnyy lol ‘Most of them are little boys in adult bodies with their umblical chords still uncut’ ..lil boys that do all crazy shit that mom told em not to. R the eves marrying them, marauding big bad wolf ha 🙂 ?
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Desi women should just marry non-Desi guys who are open to the good aspects of Desi culture that the Desi woman wants to hold on to. Forget Desi guys unless their parents are dead and gone.
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When I read this stuff, I do sigh with relief…This is one of the joys of dating a non-Desi man. My boyfriend loves his mom, but he has his own life separate from her. He will not tolerate his parents intruding on his relationship.
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Speaking of MIL’s being all about them, I personally grew up with a narcissist mom where it was all about her. I will write about her in my blog later on. 🙂
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I’ve been saying all of this for a long time but because I’m not Desi, Indians get mad at me for it.
My bit of advice: don’t marry an Indian guy unless his parents are DEAD!
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You can’t generalize all men. I know some good ones and have dealt with few bad apples. Then why marry an Indian at all? Find one who is a man not a boy. Most of them are little boys in adult bodies with their umblical chords still uncut. Better try finding a needle in a haystack.
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Hahaha! So true, but I imagine it would be nearly impossible to find one that wasn’t still attached at the belly-button. Yes, I often wish I had married a man who’s parents were also already DEAD!!! But I dearly love my hubby and I think he’s trying to deal w/ PIMIL the best he can. He knows she’s a nut and is committed to keeping her away from us so at least I have that.
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If anyone is interested, I wrote my blog entry on how to recognize a mom with narcissistic personality disorder. I feel like most people don’t know or understand this.
http://nolongeraslave.wordpress.com/ 🙂
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