Most people think that divorce is the end of a relationship between a husband and wife. But the reality is that divorce results in the termination, or change, of a whole host of relationships. Obviously, the relationship between you and your spouse will fundamentally change. So too, the relationships between you and your children will change. But in addition to these changes, your relationship with your in-laws and extended family will also change. What may have once been a very close and cordial relationship between you and your in-laws may be permanently severed. It is not uncommon for your in-laws to take the side of their own blood relative. Although rare, there are in-laws that are able to maintain a close relationship with their son-in-law or daughter-in-law despite their adult child’s divorce. It is those in-laws that are able to put aside their prejudices and loyalties and focus on the positive elements of their past and future relationship with you.
Relationships are a two-way street. People get out of a relationship what they put into that relationship. If the relationship with your in-laws has always been strained, it is most likely that such a relationship will not survive a divorce. However, if that relationship was historically close, it is more likely that the relationship will survive the divorce and continue, albeit in a different form.
When divorce occurs, you have to sort out how to re-establish all your past relationships. Although rarely considered at the time of divorce, you must also consider how to manage your post-separation relationship with your in-laws. This does not only involve the parents of your ex, but also your brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and your children’s cousins. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Even in a family, different members of it will approach divorce differently. Some will retreat and cease communication. Others will maintain a cordial but distant relationship. Then others will maintain close contact irrespective of their relative’s divorce. As described above, no two relationships are the same and all relationships require nurture.
So if you are going through a divorce, it would be wise to attempt to maintain cordial relationships with all your in-laws. Your efforts will reveal whether there is a mutual interest to preserve and maintain a relationship. Tread carefully. Be aware of the signals. But also be respectful of the difficult position in which they are in. Expect very little. But if your in-laws show an interest to preserve that relationship, acknowledge it and be grateful for it. Do not cross the line. Be careful not to use that relationship to either convey messages to your ex or to disparage him or her. This is a sure fire way to also divorce your in-laws.
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