Whether or not you got along with your in-laws during your marriage, the dynamics of that relationship are bound to change during and after divorce. If you share kids with your ex, there’s a good chance that you’ll have at least occasional contact with your ex-in-laws, at least until your kids are grown. So how do you deal with them if they’re more like Norma Bates than Marion Cunningham?
Keeping the Peace: Your Durham Divorce Lawyer’s Advice
Like with most aspects of your split, your Durham divorce lawyer will probably advise you to keep the peace with your ex-in-laws. While it may not have any impact on your case, a gesture of goodwill such as being nice to your ex’s parents can trickle down to your ex; there’s no such thing as too much goodwill between you and your ex during or after a divorce.
Visits to Their Grandparents’ House
Your kids will probably enjoy the same regular visits to your ex-in-laws’ house as they always have. Depending on your custody agreement, some of those visits might take place on your watch. When you’re the one dropping off and picking up the kids, try your best to keep things civil. If they start harping on you, smile and say, “I understand that you’d like to talk about a few things. Maybe we can continue this over the phone, when the kids aren’t around.”
It’s Your Ex’s Problem
Generally, you can keep contact between you and your ex’s parents to a minimum by making sure kids’ visits are scheduled on their watch. If your ex-in-laws call you, you don’t have to answer if you’re not up for it. Remember: there’s no need to fight with them, even if they’re completely wrong. You have nothing to gain or lose, since they’re your ex’s parents, and your own sanity is more valuable than making sure they know you’re right.
