Toxic In-Laws: Loving Strategies for Protecting Your Marriage

Are your in-laws poisoning your marriage?
Bestselling author Susan Forward shows you how to manage their behavior without jeopardizing your relationship with your spouse.

Toxic in-laws come in a variety of guises. There's the Critic, who can't wait to tell you what you're doing wrong: the Controller, who tries to run your life; the Engulfer, who makes constant demands on your time; and the Master of Chaos, whose numerous problems inevitably end up in your lap. If you're suffering from these or from any other type of infuriating in-laws, your frustration is likely affecting your relationship with your spouse. This remarkable book will help.

With equal doses of understanding and advice, Susan Forward helps you navigate the treacherous waters of toxic in-laws. She explains the unique complexities of the in-law problem, a triangle that forces you and your spouse into a tug-of-war of loyalty and support. She shows how in-laws often manipulate their children to get what they want, and helps you understand the difficulties this poses for your partner.

Drawing from real-life stories of men and women struggling to free themselves from their in-laws' destructive behavior, Forward offers highly effective strategies for getting your partner to stand up for you, for setting reasonable limits, and, most importantly, for protecting your marriage. Her techniques and strategies may not transform your toxic in-laws into the in-laws of your dreams, but they will help you maintain your sanity, self-respect, and, best of all, your relationship with the person with whom you've chosen to share your life.