Does anyone actually love their in laws and extended family?

[Anonymous]

I do, except for my FIL (he's ok, but definitely would not categorize it as love)

[Anonymous]

I love my brother and sister in laws, nieces and nephews. Also loved my mil and fil. We get together whenever possible, go on family trips to national parks, go skiing, visit each other when in town. My kids have another level of support if something were to happen to me or my spouse. I realize that this is not the norm and am extremely grateful. I credit my mil who insisted that we all get together every summer for a vacation. It helped to form bonds over the years. The key to the success of these gatherings is that we don’t necessarily do everything together. We divide into subgroups when appropriate and meet up for dinner. We keep a tab of expenses and divide the costs at the end.

[Anonymous]

I've been with my husband for 20 years, and it's taken until the last few years to really love my ILs. I guess I've loved them for a while, but it's only recently that I've felt a lot of warmth for them and actually looked forward to being around them. A lot of it is that I have some perspective on how lucky I am to have them. My relationship with my father and stepmother continues to go down hill every year as they get nuttier and nuttier, and it's given me a new respect and appreciate for my ILs and how much they love my husband, our son, and me.

[Anonymous]

I like the extended in-laws much more than the immediate ones. The cousins etc are smart and fun and interesting and kind. I enjoy their company very much. The mil and fil are awkward and erratic.

[Anonymous]

Married 15 years. I like them but don't love them. We see them quite often and its fun with most of them. I don't like the ones who have proclaimed that we love each other or that we are BFFs because we aren't. Its presumptuous and there is always an angle with these relatives. The ones that do this are the ones who are pushy and demanding expecting to use the fact that you "must" love them to get whatever they want. Very annoying.

[Anonymous]

I do. I especially love my DH’s sisters and grandmother, and have a strong fondness for his parents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. He feels the same about my family of origin: lives my parents and brother, and feels fondness for many other members of my extended family.

I recognize that we’re lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love my brother and sister in laws, nieces and nephews. Also loved my mil and fil. We get together whenever possible, go on family trips to national parks, go skiing, visit each other when in town. My kids have another level of support if something were to happen to me or my spouse. I realize that this is not the norm and am extremely grateful. I credit my mil who insisted that we all get together every summer for a vacation. It helped to form bonds over the years. The key to the success of these gatherings is that we don’t necessarily do everything together. We divide into subgroups when appropriate and meet up for dinner. We keep a tab of expenses and divide the costs at the end.

Your MIL must be a wonderful mother. I know MILs who insist on the vacation, then everyone pairs off into their nuclear family, or MIL goes off with just her daughter's children. Talk about awkward. I have such limited vacation time, I would gladly go with your MIL!

[Anonymous]

Love is probably too strong of a word, but I enjoy time with my husband's family as well as my brother's wife and her parents (who are awesome).

For many years my FIL used to joke that they'd take me over my husband.

[Anonymous]

Like-some of them, some of the time
Tolerate-most of them most of the time
Love—-NO

[Anonymous]

Love is a strong word. I don’t love them. I think they’re nice people and am glad DH has such a normal relationship with his family.

I like them, they’re nice people but I don’t really think much of them.

[Anonymous]

I love my MIL. I wish she got along better with my mom, but my mom gets jealous and a little petty around her so we never do things together.

[Anonymous]

Yup.

Mil is kind of quirky and in no way is as close to me.as my mom but, yes I love her. My bils, and sils are.truly lovely. I could go out to dinner with with anyone of them solo and it would be fun and not awkward

[Anonymous]

Mine moved back to their home country a few months ago. I bawled my eyes out for weeks.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My in laws live in a trailer park (the horror!!!!) and they are loving and generous people. My FIL can fix anything and never says no to helping. They host holidays and don’t even have a dining room table to sit at, yet it’s the most loving and fun atmosphere you could ask for. I feel lucky to have them in my life.

[Anonymous]

Really dislike them and at times actively hate them. It wasn’t until after my DD was born and I saw the difference in how the grandkids were treated. Horrible. I was married before and loved my ILs do I know it doesn’t have to be this way. They visit twice a year. Can’t wait until they don’t visit anymore.