‘Spare a thought for your mother-in-law; we’re not all overbearing and controlling!’

Instead of falling into the negative stereotype, Tania West has a unique take on her role as mother-in-law as she looks to the words of John the Baptist for guidance.

As a society we love to deal in stereotypes and exaggerated cultural stories of what others are like. They make for great sound bites and stand up comedy and the mother-in-law is one such social projection. The butt of endless humour. The epitome of relational dysfunction.

So, what’s the truth? Is the amorphous mother-in-law really as overbearing and controlling as the stories lead us to believe?

I distinctly remember when I congratulated my first daughter-in-law on the announcement of their engagement.  I unashamedly borrowed and re-contextualised the words of John the Baptist and I told her “you must become greater and I must become less”.  What did I mean?