Difficult in law: 5 women share how they dealt with their difficult in-laws |

When a woman gets married, she not only forms a relationship with her husband, but also forms new bonds with her entire family. These connections can range from beautiful, open-armed and accepted, to difficult and complex. However, whatever the situation, her husband’s family becomes an important part of her life, right? So, the question arises: how can she maintain these relationships while being respectful and achieving her goals – whether it’s their love, respect, or a special place in their heart?
Here, five women share their real-life experiences facing challenges with their in-laws. They reveal how they refused to give up, approached problems with smart strategies, and ultimately transformed those relationships into beautiful bonds over time.

Priya and her sister-in-law
Priya from Bengaluru was often judged by her sister-in-law, Neha, for her focus on her work.
How she handled it: Priya politely explained to Neha how she balances work and family, and doesn’t just focus on her work. Priya explained to him how she understands the importance of a good work-life balance. Neha started understanding her better and was supportive when she saw her working hard in her personal and professional life. Priya also made an effort to involve Neha in family activities, which helped their relationship improve. Eventually, they grew closer and began to respect each other’s choices more.
Aditi and her mother-in-law

Aditi from Delhi had an overbearing mother-in-law who always criticized her.
How she handled it: Aditi spoke to her husband, Arjun, who slowly and politely helped her set boundaries with her mother. Aditi also learned to stay calm and choose which issues to discuss. Over time, things got better and her mother-in-law began to respect her more. Aditi also found ways to build a better relationship by spending time together, which helped ease tensions. She understood that constant effort would improve her relationship, and that’s what happened.
Sanya and her father-in-law
Sanya from Mumbai felt extremely hurt because her father-in-law Mr. Rao compared her to her previous daughter-in-law.
How she handled it: Sanya spoke calmly to Mr. Rao and explained to him how his words made her feel. Although not immediately, he slowly understood and became more respectful. Over time, their relationship became less strained and Mr. Rao stopped comparing her to others. Sanya also worked to create a more comfortable atmosphere by remaining patient and understanding. She understood and gave her stepfather time and space while working to improve their relationship.

Neha and her mother-in-law
Neha from Kolkata was often criticized by her traditional and somewhat orthodox mother-in-law for not doing all the housework.
How she handled it: Neha spoke to her husband, Raghav, and they shared the work equally. She also gently set boundaries with her mother-in-law. Over time, her mother-in-law understood and respected her decisions more. Neha took care to express her gratitude for her mother-in-law’s help, which sweetened the relationship.
Simran and her in-laws
Simran from Chandigarh felt extremely overwhelmed by her in-laws who kept interfering in her personal life.
How she handled it: Simran spoke openly to her in-laws and told them that she needed space. With the help of her husband, they set clear boundaries. Simran was firm but polite and her in-laws started respecting her more. She also made time for family activities to maintain good relationships despite limitations.