How to Celebrate Mother's Day With Your Mother-in-Law

You and your mother-in-law may adore each other, or perhaps you just agree to disagree most of the time. Still, there are many ways to include her in your Mother's Day celebrations and to honor her for having produced your spouse!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bookstore/music Gift Certificates
• Mother's Day Greeting Cards
• Blank Cards

1. Decide whether to send your mother-in-law a card yourself, or whether you and your spouse will sign the card as a couple. The choice will depend on the dynamics of your family ' only you can decide which is best.

2. Consult your spouse when planning gifts and activities for your mother-in-law. Your spouse will give you a clearer idea of her likes and dislikes.

3. Get your children, if you have any, to make cards or gifts for their grandmother. Include a recent photograph of each child with the gifts.

4. Invite your mother-in-law to dinner or take her out as part of a family Mother's Day brunch, lunch or dinner. If she lives in a different town, consider sending her a care package instead.

5. Ask your mother-in-law how she would like to celebrate Mother's Day. Instead of the traditional brunch date, maybe she would prefer to go to a movie, hike, or even learn how to hang glide!

Tips & Warnings

• Try to set any differences you may have with your mother-in-law aside for the day. Of course, you don't have to agree with everything she says, but if you can avoid arguments and keep the peace, this may be the best family gift of all.
• Think twice before offering an adventure such as hang gliding, unless you and your mother-in-law get along really well. She could take your invitation the wrong way.
• Be careful when choosing cards. Avoid cards with messages that could be taken the wrong way or humorous cards that cut a little too close to home. If all else fails, buy a beautiful blank card or one with a simple 'Happy Mother's Day' message.

[asalimkhan2]

on 5/6/2009 Will do

[GreenMomma]

on 4/8/2008 What a touchy subject. Since my MIL IS my husband's mother and deserves respect on that day too, my little nuclear family celebrates first and then we see my MIL for a late lunch. Compromise ladies, compromise...how will you like it in 20 years when your son no longer wants to share mother's day with you because his wife doesn't feel like it??? Think about it.

[GreenMomma]

on 4/8/2008 What a touchy subject. Since my MIL IS my husband's mother and deserves respect on that day too, my little nuclear family celebrates first and then we see my MIL for a late lunch. Compromise ladies, compromise...how will you like it in 20 years when your son no longer wants to share mother's day with you because his wife doesn't feel like it??? Think about it.

[Hopefull]

on 5/13/2007 WHAT!!! Ok His Mom his problem. This is not MIL day but Mothers day. I am a mother too and deserve just as much adoration as my MIL. My children give me home made card and let me rest for the day. It is not up to me to take care of mil it is up to her children. If her children do nothing for her it is not my fault.

[Disbelieving]

on 5/13/2007 why on EARTH do you expect the wife to include her mother in law in her own mothers day???

It is the husbands job to wish his mother a happy mothers day, not his wife's! O.O