3 Signs that Your Relationship with Your Parents is HURTING your Marriage

3.  Your parents get angry with you when they don’t have a significant say in your personal schedule and your life as a couple.

I have seen this one nearly tear couples apart.   There are tragic situations where one spouse’s parents request that their son/daughter attends family functions without his/her spouse.  And, that goes completely against what marriage is all about.  There are also frustrating situations where parents make demands on the married couple for a certain portion of their schedule that interferes with the couple’s daily life.  Whenever parents make demands of any kind on their married children, it places the married children in a tough spot.  And, it can cause some arguments, confusion, disappointment, and great anger inside the family.  It’s an awful place to be.

However, our first loyalty must be with our spouse–not our parents.  So, if your parents are constantly trying to control your schedule and interfere in your marriage, then you must lovingly tell them to stop.  Tell them how much you love and respect them, but also tell them that you made a commitment to your husband/wife that you are trying to honor as best you can.  Be firm, but loving.  Explain to them that you must consider your spouse first in all your decisions, but this doesn’t mean that you don’t love and respect them as your parents.  

Ask them to respect your marriage.  If they refuse or continue to act angry, then let there be a little space and time between you until things cool down.  Pray about it.  Ask God to bring peace to the situation, and He will.  It will take some time and lots of understanding, but the peace will come and your relationship with your parents and spouse will become healthier and happier in the process.

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