Post #326241 by mzoltarp on Fri, Aug 17, 2007 8:53 AM

Step 1: Make sure your wife is 100% with you on tiki decoration. If she is, then see step 2. If she is wishy washy, she either needs to grow a spine or you need to ditch the tikis assuming you plan to be in the marriage long term.
Step 2: SET A BOUNDARY. It's your house and your rules. If mother in law refuses to visit, then see step 3 if she does visit see step 4.
Step 3: Visit her at her house.
Step 4: Set another boundary. Her discussion of religiosity is off limits in your house and if she brings it up show her the door. Seriously.

From a psychological standpoint if she is judgmental on religious issues she is likely to be judgmental period. If mother and daughter are enmeshed in such a way that mother is capable of bashing through her daughter's inital boundary setting to get her way anyway, then you really have trouble with a capital T.

Ultimately, decide if this is an Iwo Jima you're willing to go for. If it is then, fire all the guns at once...

I speak from experience with an intolerant aunt...