Family Relationships and Prison: His Family Drives me Crazy, Do I Need to Stay in Contact With Them While He Is in Prison?

Family Relationships and Prison: His Family Drives me Crazy, Do I Need to Stay in Contact With Them While He Is in Prison?

Take all the in-law jokes in the world and put them together, and they can’t match the tension that can occur between a wife and her in-laws while her husband is in prison. But it will be comforting to him if you make the effort to get along with them while he is gone. Try to remember that they love him too. Whether you get along with each other or not the fact remains that they love and miss him, just like you do. That alone can give you all a common ground to work with when it comes to communicating while he is inside. Check out: Relationships and Long-Term Incarceration Keeping them informed will bridge the gap. As his wife, you have more access to him than they do. He calls you more, writes to you more and has you visit more often. A little communication goes a long way. Let them know how he is doing and what is going on with his case. This can reduce any resentment they feel about being left out. Check out: Five Biggest Mother-in-Law Mistakes Give them some time with him. As much as you might want to see him every minute of every visit and receive every phone call, they love him and want to see him as well. Offer to work out a schedule with them so they can see him sometimes and suggest to him that he call his parents periodically. Final thoughts: Someday he will be released and when he is, you don’t want tense feelings and ruined relationships with his family members to mar his homecoming. Make the effort while he is gone so that when he comes home you have a better chance at being one big happy family.   Related:  Keeping it Real:  How to get along with family members.