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Suppose you have an in-law who for years blatantly praises his relatives for supposedly being rich or highly educated. He harps on this for long periods of time and at the same time he questions your income and educational qualifications. He also pressures you to become much more like his relatives, even though you have repeatedly made it clear that you will always do things your way and you're not interested in being anything like them.
Ask your "other" to talk to the parent. Then, if it does not work, distance yourself. Or come up with a humerous response and give it each and every time, and I mean every time. Maybe the parent will then get the idea.
You could say "Guess I'm just not what you expected." or "We just do our own thing." Say it strong and clear and with a huge smile. Each and every time. Ignore the comments about others because no one knows what goes on behind closed doors and people who look successful can be very unhappy.
We do this when anyone asks if we have kids. I say "never had them, never wanted them and am very happy." Again with a huge smile. Repeat as necessary.
How does your spouse feel about it? Your question depends upon a few factors. Does everyone else in the family find this person is annoying, or just you?
It could be a situation in which everyone else in the family hopes you will shape up, or it could be that he is just a jerk. Could the criticism have any validity? Even if it does, it is up to you whether you react to it of not.
My wife has a younger sister that married the King of the jerks, his blood relatives "have all the class" the rest of us are low lives and trash, but that is only in his warped little mind.
Usually at X-Mas at another sisters house a bunch of us will be gathered in the basement laughing at him and telling each other what he has been saying about everyone behind their backs.
Start telling riches to rags stories, about all the rich people you know who got fired, spent more money than they had, etc. Make them up if you have to. Whatever comment he has, just counter it about how 'Oh, wow, I knew this guy who had the same job, but he wound up breaking his leg and got fired for missing too much work, and everything went downhill from there.'
Lol, I bet more than one of these "high class in-laws" is maxed out on twenty credit cards, has a house they can barely make the mortgage payment on and lives paycheck to paycheck trying to keep up with the Joneses. People who have true wealth rarely brag about it.
Don't let them make you feel bad about yourself. See the amusement in someone who is so insecure they must constantly compete and seek approval from others.
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach. Next time, pull out a dictionary and read all the definitions of the word "relative". And then ask your in-law "What does all that mean?"
Last edited by linkinpark14; 10-14-2014 at 11:22 PM..
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