The MIL/DIL Relationship: How to Actually Make It Work :: Stacy Reaoch [Ep 589]

Family relationships can be complicated! So how do we navigate changing family roles, competing expectations, boundaries, and communication while protecting the relationships that matter most?

In this episode, Stacy Reaoch joins me to talk about the challenges that can come with family relationships and what it looks like to choose connection, extend grace, and build bridges even when things feel awkward or difficult. Stacy co-wrote Making Room for Her with her own mother-in-law and shares wisdom from interviewing women across different generations about their experiences.

We talk about:

Why family relationships can become challenging when roles and expectations change

Navigating competing expectations around time, holidays, and extended family

Knowing when to speak up and when to let something go

Why unsolicited advice can create tension—and what to do instead

How parenting preferences can create conflict between generations

Choosing the relationship over the small things

What grandparents can do to build trust with their adult children and their spouses

Finding small ways to show love and move toward a family member, even when it feels awkward

How to support your adult child's marriage without taking sides