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Tags: in-laws | parents | marriage | counseling
OPINION

Managing Relationships and Parents

Doris Wild Helmering, LCSW., BCD By Friday, 07 November 2025 03:54 PM EST Current | Bio | Archive

Dear Doris,

My wife continually badmouths my parents who we hardly ever see and live 500 miles away. Needless to say I don’t feel very close to my wife when she does this.

How can I get her to stop?

Tell her you love her but you also love your folks. Each time she bad-mouths them, she chips away at your good feelings for her.

In other words, she’s killing your love for her by bad-mouthing your folks.

Or as the saying goes, “Death by a thousand duck bites.”

If you have enjoyed reading this column, click here to subscribe to Doris’ blog and receive it directly into your inbox each week. Check out Doris’ books, “The Boy Whose Idea Could Feed the World,” “The Parent Teacher Discussion Guide,“ and “Thin Becomes You” at Doris’ web page: http://www.doriswildhelmering.com.

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DorisHelmering
My wife continually badmouths my parents who we hardly ever see and live 500 miles away. Needless to say I don’t feel very close to my wife when she does this.
in-laws, parents, marriage, counseling
138
2025-54-07
Friday, 07 November 2025 03:54 PM
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