Posted by Chuck(G) on April 19, 2001 at 12:51:21:
In Reply to: In-laws posted by Frustrated on April 19, 2001 at 00:35:28:
First of all, understand that your in-laws do care very much about you and your wife and want the best for you. I suspect that at some time in their lives, they've had to struggle and they don't want you and your wife to. They probably also know that financial difficulties put a horrendous stress on a marriage. They're probably also scared to death that if things don't work out, they're going to be called on to help.
If they've been married for a long time (hard to say in these days), they realize that marriage is a cooperative enterprise; personal wishes often must take a back seat. It sounds as if they think you're being selfish in your desires. Sound your wife out on this one and see what she REALLY thinks about it. That your career decision is simply "okay" with your wife isn't enough for them. She needs to be behind you 100 percent and she should tell her parents that she is. (See Farah's post below for a clue).
They just want you and your wife to be happy; your and your wife's job is to convince them that this career move is the best for both of you and that their emotional support is really needed.
But by all means, don't tell them to "stuff it". They'll resent you for it and if your gig doesn't work out, you'll never hear the end of "I told you so".