How to Bond with Your Father-in-Law
Now that you're part of the family, learn how to form a lasting relationship with your new father-in-law.
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You Will Need
- Time
- Respect
- Patience
Steps
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Step 1
Get him involved
Get your father-in-law more involved in projects and activities around the house such as installing a new porch or a new entertainment center.
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Step 2
Hang out more
Hang out together more as a family over dinner or drinks. Familiarity often encourages stronger positive feelings.
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Step 3
Never talk about your marriage
Keep the conversation light and never talk about negative aspects of your marriage. After all, this is their daughter or son and your spouse -- no good can come from complaining.
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If you tend to disagree on issues such as politics and religion, stay away from those topics when talking.
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Step 4
Pick your battles
Pick when to stand up for yourself and when to let things go. Either way, always be respectful. Patience and reserve will ultimately pay off in the long run.
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Step 5
Ask for advice
Ask for advice on little things so the father-in-law feels like he is an important member of this new life. Give compliments whenever you can, just don't brown-nose.
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Step 6
Talk openly
Talk openly and honestly with your father-in-law and learn as much as you can about being married, having a family, and any other life topics. The more common ground you can find, the stronger the bond will be.
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In 2001, the movie Meet the Parents had the then-highest-grossing October premiere of any film to date, at $29.1 million.
