Sandy Malone, a guest blogger onthe Huffington Post Wedding Section, recently wrote about how not to let a
“momzilla” ruin your wedding day. It’s a good posting and worth reading, in my
opinion. However, the comments brides
left especially fascinated me––many of who suggested that you not fight your
mom and let her have her way!
Well, although I’m not a bride, that
kind of advice makes me feel queasy. If
you let your mother trample on your vision for your wedding will she be
satisfied and let you and your husband (wife) live in peace? I don’t think so. I think she eventually will go on to tell you
how to cook, keep house, and be a wife (or husband). And, then, when you have kids, I have no
doubt she’ll weigh in on your parenting techniques.
Here are some questions I think you
and your partner need to talk about at the outset of your wedding
planning. These are issues you need to
consciously talk about and not take for granted.
The more clear you are in your
answers, the better you’ll be in containing your mother (or father) in their
efforts to hijack your day (and your married life):
- How do you deal with your parents? Revert to childhood? Become passive-aggressive? Argue heatedly? Other way?
- How do you express to them what you desire for the wedding?
- Are you able to explain why you want what you want?
- Is your wedding family-focused or-friend-focused? What are the implications for this?
- Have you asked family for specific help in any areas?
- What do you think are your parents’ obligations to you regarding the paying and planning of the wedding?
- How do you show your family thanks throughout the planning process?
- What are you willing/prepared to do if your parents do not go along with your ideas/wishes?
