"Extended family Relationships" #FamilyLifeSimplified Tweet Session.

         

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1. Navigating relationships with your extended family and in laws can be challenging.

2. It's important that you have open communication with your spouse regarding their families.

3. Proper boundaries are essential for the success of any relationship.
4. Discuss with your spouse and agree on all financial commitments to extended family before you make them. Amos 3:3

5. The husband and wife are a unit and need to be treated as such.
6. It's important that you don't allow extended family to break the husband /wife alliance. Mk 10:9

7. Avoid keeping secrets from your spouse about your commitments to your extended family. Eph 4:25

8. Dishonesty never produces good fruit in a marriage.

9. Decide together the role that you wish your extended family to have in your children's lives

10. Grandparents play a vital role in a child's life.

11. Don't deprive your child of his grandparents simply because of disagreements.

12. Avoid spoiling your children's opinion of extended family

13. Don't tell your children negative stories about your in laws. They'll be unfairly forced to choose.

14. As much as possible, be at peace with all men. Heb 12:14

15. If peace is your goal, you will use wisdom to avoid volatile circumstances with extended family

16. Your extended family relationship is yours. It doesn't have to mimic your neighbors
17. Avoid the comparison game, thinking that others have it better than you. 2 Cor 10:12

18. Before you marry, be aware of the kind of family you are marrying into.

19. Don't gossip about your spouse's family to your family or friends. Prov 16:28

20. When things are less than perfect, take it before the Lord in prayer. Phil 4:6

21. Don't underestimate God's power to intervene in your extended family relationships
22. Humble yourself and submit to the various requirements of your extended family, so long as it doesn't compromise your faith.

23. If there's something important to your extended family that you do, try to do it, so long as you have agreement with your spouse.

24. Publicly praise your in laws and you'll score points with your spouse.

25. Don't play your spouse against their parents. Avoid ultimatums.

26. Be flexible, willing to bend where needed, but not a doormat.

27. Husbands, defend your wife with your family. 

28. Husbands, don't let your wife sort out her own matters with your family. Join her and take the lead.
29. Wives, think before you speak.

30. Wives, your husband deeply wants you to embrace his family and culture. Do your best.

31. According to a newly released study by Focus on the Family, men who are on good terms with their wives' parents are more likely to enjoy a long-lasting marriage.

32. Orbuch says that when a man bonds with his in-laws, his wife gets the message that "your family is important to me because you're important to me. I want to feel closer to them because I want to be closer to you." Wives love that and marriages get a longevity bump.

33. Are the in law, looking for advice on how to navigate the relationship?

34. Here's a link with some great advice: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/communication-and-conflict/inlaw-relationships/advice-for-an-inlaw
35. According to Focus on the Family, here are some tips on how to have a civil relationship with your inlaws:

36. Civility Tips for Relating to In-Laws:

I. Be proactive. Do what you can to build the relationship.

II. Don't compete with other family members.

III. Refocus your perspective by looking for the positive.

IV. Accept reality.

 Feel free to add your own views on this topic with the hashtag #FamilyLifeSimplified on twitter, or in the comment box below.

Thank you and God bless you and give you the grace to put these points into practice, where necessary; in order to bring about every needed positive change in your relationship with your extended family.

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