From Susan Forward, Ph.D., the New York Times bestselling author of
Toxic Parents and Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them,
comes a practical and powerful book that will help couples cope with
terrible and toxic in-laws.
Toxic in-laws are in-laws who create genuine chaos through various
assaults--aggressive or subtle--on you and your marriage. Toxic in-laws
come in a wide variety of guises: "The Critics," who tell you what
you're doing wrong; "The Controllers," who try to run you and your
partner's life; "The Engulfers," who make incessant demands on your
time; "The Masters of Chaos," who drain you and your partner with their
problems; and "The Rejecters," who let you know they don't want you as
part of their family.
Susan Forward draws on real-life voices and stories of both women and
men struggling to free themselves from the frustrating, hurtful, and
infuriating relationships with their toxic in-laws. Dr. Forward offers
highly effective communication and behavioral techniques for getting
through to partners who won't or can't stand up to their parents. Next,
she lays out accessible and practical ways to reclaim your marriage from
your in-laws. She shows you what to say, what to do, and what limits to
set. If you follow these strategies, you may not turn toxic in-laws into
the in-laws of your dreams, but you will find some peace in your
relationship with them.
