The topic of bullying is usually associated with children and adolescents. Kids are bullied at school, in their neighborhoods, and through social media. It can be by people they know, or when it is through social media, it can also be by people they have never met. When you are the recipient of such actions, it is an extremely painful, lonely, and helpless experience. Even adults can be bullied -- sometimes by people in their own families.
For example -- a daughter-in-law can bully her mother-in-law. For some of you this may be hard to imagine, but for others you know this only too well. A daughter-in-law can bully by:
1. Preventing her mother-in-law contact with her son and grandchildren. This can be seen when the daughter-in-law decides they -- her husband, children, and herself -- will not include the mother-in-law for holidays, Mother's Day, special occasions, general visits, and so on. Typically she will not say anything directly, but if pressed she will have a reason as to why she is doing this. It is most often communicated to her mother-in-law through her husband (the mother-in-law's son), and the daughter-in-law's action is, more times than not, based on something she thinks the mother-in-law did or said.
2. Refusing to have any contact with her mother-in-law. If the mother-in-law tries to call or contact her daughter-in-law, the daughter-in-law ignores the mother-in-law's attempts, which puts the mother-in-law in a position of feeling completely helpless. The daughter-in-law is seeking to shift what she views as a power position. Her goal is gain the power she perceives or fears the mother-in-law has in their relationship.
3. Making snide comments about the mother-in-law. These snide comments are done while in the presence of other family members, even to the grandchildren. Such things as making fun of her, belittling her as a mother or grandmother, (as well as other comments) are done whether the mother-in-law is present or she is not. As you can imagine, this takes away from the mother-in-law's integrity in the family. This is especially damaging when the grandchildren are within earshot.
Why Do Daughters-in-Law Bully?
People who bully -- in this case daughters-in-law who bully -- do so because she is immature, insecure, has low self-esteem, and wants to feel powerful or important. And because she does not know how to feel important or powerful in any other way, she bullies. She perceives or fears that the mother-in-law is more important and/or has a higher status in the family than she does. She feels she needs to take this status away from her mother-in-law. She bullies because she wants everyone, but particularly the MIL, to know the importance of her place in this new family. Or, maybe more importantly, she wants to take any power or importance away from the mother-in-law.
What Can a Mother-in-Law Do?
Unlike bullying that occurs between children and between adolescents, a daughter-in-law who bullies her mother-in-law is really involving the whole family. And this is where things get complicated. As a rule the family dynamic is set up in such a way that no one deals directly with the bullying problem. The mother-in-law (and her side of the family) is afraid to do or say anything for fear of retribution; the daughter-in-law's husband doesn't see it, doesn't want to see it, or doesn't know what to do when he does see it; the daughter-in-law's side of the family is either in collusion knowingly or not, or they are afraid of her as well.
If the mother-in-law talks to her son she puts him in the middle, and often times, he gets upset with her because he doesn't know what to do either, and he doesn't want to create problems at home. If the mother-in-law gets angry and expresses her frustration to her daughter-in-law she only makes the situation worse, as this give the daughter-in-law the ammunition she needs to justify her actions. However, if keeping the peace means doing nothing, then that is not the answer either. So what's a mother-in-law to do?
A Mother-in-Law Can:
•Recognize the characteristics of her daughter-in-law who bullies her -- immature, insecure, low self-esteem, and a feeling of powerlessness or a lack of importance.
•With these things in mind -- know a daughter-in-law will often attach her actions (controlling/bullying behavior) onto some situation with you or something you did specifically to cause her to take this action. (Remember, the daughter-in-law more than likely doesn't recognize the characteristics described above as part of herself.)
•Find the reason behind the daughter-in-law's response of bullying -- in other words, what does she believe you've done or said to give her justification for acting this way?
-- Please keep in mind that her justification may or may not be based on something that is true/accurate. This doesn't matter. What matters is that this is her perception. Her perception is your starting point.
•Once you knows what the catalyst is, you are in the position to begin changing your situation with your daughter-in-law -- without getting defensive, explaining or justifying yourself in hopes of getting your daughter-in-law to see your side of things.
Sometimes a daughter-in-law is not willing to even talk to her mother-in-law. I suggest the mother-in-law initially write "appreciation" letters to her daughter-in-law (I write about this in my book, Reluctantly Related). This begins to open the door a bit, and then, you can begin the process I described above.
The key is to realize that your daughter-in-law wants to feel as though she matters and that she is an important person in the family. She wants to be recognized for her new position with her husband.
If you would like some help with your specific situation, please email me -- Deanna@DrDeannaBrann.com to set up a consultation.