Counseling Corner 3/13

Hey Guys,

I have a problem I am hoping you and the listeners can help me with. It has to do with my wife's parents and it seems to be getting worse as time goes on.

My in-laws have completely opposite political views than I (and my wife) do. The live in a neighboring state, so we don't see them as much as we could...but EVERY TIME we get together, both her mother and father bring up issues that are basically powder-kegs for debate. They spew their political viewpoints and then just sit back and wait for us to take the bait. My wife and I have talked about this and we usually don't take the bait...but sometimes it's REALLY hard not to. Once, my mother-in-law said, “anyone who would believe that is a complete idiot” - knowing that I believe in what she was criticizing and I was sitting in the same room with 5 feet away.

I try, so hard, not to respond, but it is so hard to sit and listen to them say what they say. We can be talking about something as benign as a certain Christmas song...and the next thing they have changed the topic to the separation of church and state.

What, if anything, can I do?

Jake