When you welcome a baby boy into your life, it’s hard not to think about the day he’ll leave your side for another woman. You know, even as he professes his love for you throughout his toddler years, that eventually he’ll grow up and start a life of his own.
You can’t shake the feeling that the woman he marries may hold some resentment towards your close relationship. After all, while many women claim to appreciate a mama’s boy, they often want to distance him from his mother.
My husband has often advised me to loosen the ties that bind us. No way! I intend to maintain that connection until it’s no longer possible. How long will he continue saying “I love you” as he heads out the door or ask me to cuddle with him at night? I can’t say, but I won’t be the one to initiate any change.
Even when he’s 40, if he wants me to lay beside him and scratch his back, I’ll just say, “Make room for Emily,” or whatever name his future wife might have.
Let’s face it: he might be just five years old now, but soon enough, he’ll be driving and heading off to college, and then he might marry and move closer to his wife’s family. Then, as a father, he might have his partner call to cancel our holiday plans, making me heartbroken. Perhaps he’ll try to mend things by sending a fruit basket filled with pears—he knows how much I adore them, but they’ll arrive bruised, just like my feelings.
We can’t let that happen. It’s time to create a preventative strategy against potential in-law rivalry. We’ll make sure those future wives are aware of their responsibilities—yes, a new agreement, in addition to the traditional prenup, is in order.
This is how the Mother-in-Law Agreement (MIL-nup) unfolds:
- I will praise my mother-in-law’s (MIL’s) culinary skills, home decor, and the incredible job she did raising her son, my husband.
- Each time we meet, I will admire my MIL’s ageless beauty and flawless skin.
- I will recognize that my husband is temporarily mine while we create a family together, and I’ll frequently remind him of the wonderful traits he inherited from his mother.
- I’ll encourage my husband to check in with his mother daily, saying things like, “Have you told your mother you love her today? You really should; she’s amazing.”
- I’ll make comments like:
- “That wonderful woman raised you! You owe her a thank you… again.”
- “You can never truly express enough gratitude to her.”
- “Let’s visit her and show our appreciation in person.”
- “We should bring her a thoughtful gift.”
- “She definitely deserves it.”
- “How about we take her along on vacation?”
- “And get her another present, perhaps a lovely locket with pictures of you and our children?”
- “No need for me in those photos; she didn’t raise me, after all.”
- I’ll confidently tell other women that their mothers-in-law can’t hold a candle to mine, and I’ll stand ready to defend my MIL’s honor.
- I’ll accompany my MIL to her weekly salon appointments and shopping excursions, as needed.
- I will cherish every holiday spent with my husband’s family, recognizing how much more delightful they are compared to my own.
- Ultimately, I will relocate to be near my MIL, no matter where life takes her—be it a retirement community in sunny Florida, a nudist colony in Arizona, or even an adventurous move to Alaska for fresh sushi. Her wisdom and charm will surely guide us in any situation!
- Of course, when she ages and struggles to remember who I am, she is more than welcome to live with my husband and me.
By formalizing this agreement, we can safeguard our bond and ensure that our sweet boy remains close to his mother.
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Summary
The playful “Mother-in-Law Agreement” (MIL-nup) humorously outlines how a mother can maintain a strong bond with her son despite the inevitable changes that come with marriage. It emphasizes the importance of appreciation, respect, and proactive measures to ensure a harmonious family dynamic.