Customer Reviews

The Daughter-in-Law Rules: 101 Surefire Ways to Make Friends with Your Mother-In-Law!

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I was incredibly disappointed by this book, especially after seeing so many good reviews for it here on Amazon. I felt as if I was being dragged back to the dark ages. According to this, smart, intelligent, capable women must have no opinions of their own but instead must pander to the MIL like children eager to please. This is demeaning to both the DIL and the MIL. The message here is to be anything but yourself. Not advice I would give to any of my clients. Cute, but no real advice here.

I just received my book in the mail today and it took me 30-minutes to read the whole thing. I thought I may learn something from this book perhaps obtain a perspective I 'vet never had before in regards to my MIL. But to be quite honest I didn't gain anything from this book, it's simplistic nature and generalist advice made it a boring read. This book lacks a sense of maturity and doesn't address the variation of mother in-laws. It is from a single scope and offers very amateur advice. I wish someone would take a broader approach to the subject and write a book that addresses all types of MIL and DIL realtionships. Perhaps I will. Puchase the book as a gag gift for a Bachelorette party or wedding shower , the pink pepto-bismol cover may even look nice in your bathroom . The content was midly entertaining. Do not purchase this book if you are looking for a mature perspective on this subject.

I don't even know where to begin. I brought this book and read it with my husband, as my relationship with my MIL is somewhat stressful. Even my husband didn't like the book. He said it was "rediculous". The book advises that basicially a DIL needs to be a push-over/doormat. Look, I'm for letting things go, and not sweating the small stuff. In fact, if you can't do that than you probably shouldn't even be married. However there comes a time in every relationship we have to stand up for ourselves, demand respect, and be honest (and there is a right way to do that). This book teaches DILs to bascilly take whatever disrespect their MIL has to offer, which dosen't sound like a healthy relationship to me. My husband even joked that the person who wrote this book must be a MIL.

I purchased this book in the hope that it would give some practical AND reasonable advice on how to deal with mothers-in law... what I got was practically something which repeated all the time that in front of my MIL I should do as she pleases, and then do whatever I want behind her back. Personally, I find this childish and of little use. The point is to fix the problem, not just to hide it!
I believe that as grown-up people, we should be able to communicate and clearly state what we can tolerate and cannot tolerate... sure, the way we state that should be delicate, especially when dealing with a MIL, but I am far away from agreeing that I should never oppose her opinion.
Of course, I am not saying that this is something which should be done with everyone's mother-in-law.. but mine is certainly not the old idiot the author is describing in her book.

I was excited about this book. I am newly married and have a good relationship with my MIL, but I'm always looking for ways to improve it and not get bugged about certain things. I was very disappointed after reading a few "rules" because, despite the fun cover, this book is targeted at an older audience. I am 25, my MIL is 55, and I found hardly anything in this book that I could relate to. Also, I felt like there were some, the only way I can think to describe it is geographical? stereotypes that I just could in no way comprehend. The writing is fun and full of personality, but if you're looking for more something more substantial, I wouldn't really bother.

Sally Shields book is for those daughters-in-law/mother-in-law relationships that exist only in fairy tales. She has self-published a book of mundane "rules" that any decent, mildly intelligent daughter-in-law would certainly try but NEVER addresses the issue of the chronically intractable mother-in-law which is so often the case in real life. Perfect for a Woman's Day article but hardly worth the read for any daughter-in-law or son-in-law for that matter (I was sincerely hoping for solutions; there are none here) who works and has children facing an adversarial mother-in-law. It's premise is loopy New Age thinking: give out love and love will come back to you but what couple with a difficult, obstinate mother-in-law has had that experience as the norm? Despite their best efforts? If that were the case, the issue of the mother-in-law wouldn't be the age-old controversary that is. There are no real strategies; just a litany of domestic anecdotes which are a throwback to the 50s when daughters-in-law were forever pleasing the overbearing mother-in-law to the point of being obsequious. The [...] book has no momentum and offers no real-life advice for the modern woman like my wife who is a professor and a mother of three. Although this comes highly recommended, it's sugary tactics cannot begin to solve the deeper conflicts [...]. No wonder it is self-published!

This book is a light, funny read with SOME practical advice. However, if you truly do have trouble with your MIL and have made a REAL effort, I think this book will leave you with much to be desired. I was expecting the magic bullet and all I got was slightly entertained....I will stick to working my hardest to get along with my MIL as I ADORE my husband!!!

Since there are almost no books on the subject of in-law relationships, I eagerly ordered this volume. It was very disappointing. As a mother-in-law, I found the "rules" disrespectful and dishonest -- placate the MIL, lie when necessary, and do what you must to tolerate the conniving, mean-spirited complaining crank. Sturggles between in-laws are real; honest, loving relationships are possible. If you want a shallow relationship with an in-law, this is the book to read. If you want a meaingful relationship, start with unconditional love, the humility to ask for forgiveness (both sides) and lots of prayer.

I feel stupid for thinking I could take this book seriously. In comic sans, the author tries to be funny in a crass tone. I was legitimately looking for help--this is not it.

****Warning...If you don't Cheat and read the Front and then the Back of this book and then read the middle you will be SHOCKED!

If you do this it will Buffer you... because you will FEEL that the Authors intent was not to be a TOTAL ...JERK!

It waffles back and forth seeming Like a LOVING book to Juvenile....and Nasty!

Ok....Mother -in-Laws have been the punching Bags for YEARS!

BUT...come on...Although it's Very Sad that many Daughter in Laws Might have had some of these things happen with them with their... Mother -in-Law!

This Book is just so Goofy...But...farting Jokes...and other juvenile ...childish stuff ...this BOOK is Not about LEARNING anything!

The ONE POSITIVE Thing about this book is makes me Realize that I'm an EXCEPTIONAL Mother in Law...Because my Daughter-in-Law would not EVER need to read this BOOK!