"I swear I'll make her eat those words!"

We don't get to choose our in-laws. Sometimes we get lucky and we perfectly get along with them; other times, well, see above!

Establishing strong relationships with your husband's family can be a little overwhelming at times, but doing so can prevent a lot of unneeded arguments and make for a much smoother living environment. At the end of the day, your in-laws are still your husband's parents and a new, regular part of your life; they'll also have a hand in raising your children - do you really want to keep fighting over the next 20 or 30 years?

A little finesse, a little understanding, and a little give and take will go a long way towards making your in-laws feel that their presence is important to you (and if it's not, pretend!), and more often than not, that's all it takes. After all, their hearts are in the right place, and though they may not know how to properly express it, they're just trying to keep a little spot in their son's new life.