Taking On the In-Laws

In-law relationships are universally challenging. Marriage is never as simple as joining two people together -- a whole host of family members, expectations, learned behaviors, customs, and inside jokes come along for the ride! It's no wonder people struggle with the weight of dividing loyalty between family of origin and new spouse. We'll talk about why combining family systems is like living in a foreign land, and how we can approach in-law relationships with honor, respect, and appreciation.

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Check out Invisible Loyalties: Reciprocity in Intergenerational Family Therapy by Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy

If you are preparing to get married, we highly recommend premarital therapy that acknowledges and explores the combining of your family systems. Look for a therapist who uses the tool Prepare & Enrich.

For family therapy (you can bring the in-laws!!!) in the Chicagoland area, check out the Center for Family and Relational Health at Wheaton College.

Cover art photo: July 1992, joining our families together

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produced by Zach Van Dyke