Stepmother / Stepdaughter

You should deal with your daughter-in-law the way you would like your son-in-law to deal with your daughter. The way your son-in-law or his mother deals with your daughter is the way that you should not adopt with your daughter-in-law. If you continue to treat your daughter-in-law in this way, then you should not say that your daughter is being abused because if mistreating your daughter is incorrect then mistreating your daughter-in-law is also incorrect. There is no difference except that your daughter is in a dilemma there while here, it is your daughter-in-law.

This is the best way to judge whether the way you treat your daughter-in-law is good or bad. It is just out of formality that we call her a ‘daughter-in-law’. In reality, the treatment that she receives is as if she was something picked up from the bin.

The daughters-in-law have their whims too. They want to separate their husband from their mother at all costs. Is it appropriate? How would you feel if someone wanted to separate you from your child? It would be really painful. So, why do you want to put your mother-in-law in such a big predicament?

Remember, you will one day become a mother-in-law too. Think about how you have been treating her now. At that time, you will understand why your daughter-in-law treats you the way you used to treat your mother-in-law. Sooner or later, everyone will reap whatever he sows. We should not think that whatever we do, will go unnoticed. Everyone will receive reward for all good that he did. In the same way, he will also have to pay the price for the harm he caused to others.

[English version of «Belle-mère/ Belle-fille » – Al Jamiat Vol.8 No.3]