In-Laws, Out-Laws, Us, and Yours
Words have meaning. When parents talk about their "daughter-in-law" they're referring to the woman their son married. It works the other way, too. She's your mother-in-law not "mom." But some people do say "daughter" or "Mom." It just depends upon their relationship. The same is true in stepfamilies. Even when a "mom" is a stepmom to one of the kids, the dad might say, "Mom texted, and dinner is in the oven." They know who he's talking about, right? The secret is to keep defining what you mean.
Show Notes
About the Guest
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Words have meaning. When parents talk about their "daughter-in-law" they're referring to the woman their son married. It works the other way, too. She's your mother-in-law not "mom." But some people do say "daughter" or "Mom." It just depends upon their relationship. The same is true in stepfamilies. Even when a "mom" is a stepmom to one of the kids, the dad might say, "Mom texted, and dinner is in the oven." They know who he's talking about, right? The secret is to keep defining what you mean.
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Ron Deal
Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is Director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and Consulting Editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart (with Dr. Gary Chapman), The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, and ...more
So, in your house do you say our “daughter-in-law” or “our daughter”?
