Article Relevant to Current Track!!!

How much easier it was for men to get married. They continued to live, post-marriage, in their comfort zones, in their own twisted and perceived versions of events, and made provisions to make their wives comfortable in their new abode.

They expected the wives to accept their parents as their own, which may or may not work out eventually for reasons best known to the couples and their families.

Either they may separate, move on or convince themselves to accept and accommodate.

How many stories of divorces, hatred, suicides and depression, really get noticed or reported or solved?

How many times have we dug deeper to understand the term 'irreconcilable differences' between a married couple?

I know of friends who struggle to deal with their mothers-in-law every day because they are seen as competition. No matter how hard the wife tried to bridge the gap, there will always be an element of competition, jealousy and discomfort in the new relationship.

This is best explained in an article, 'How To Avoid Mother-In-Law Problems' published in HubPges (external link), that states, 'Austrian psychologists believe that, subconsciously, the mother-in-law believes the daughter-in-law is a rival who has kidnapped her son and taken him by force.'

'Here, besides the jealousy, there is an aggression triggered by the female spirit to protect the partner of the opposite sex. Like any woman, she defends her child from any intruders. Thus, unconsciously, some mothers-in-law may adopt a hostile attitude that leads to conflict.'

I thought and thought about this.

There could be only one solution, the way I see it. After marriage, let the groom stay with the bride's parents. Since men consider themselves more accommodating, this arrangement would work in more than one way.

The wife would be at peace, since she's used to dealing with her mother. Besides, it would encourage parents to have a girl child and educate her well so that she can be self-reliant and independent enough to care for her family.

The son may visit his parents as much as he deems fit and contribute to their economic comfort every month. And if the wife feels her husband is trying to come between her and her parents, she can divorce him.

Does this thought make you feel uneasy or do you find it convenient? I am sure most girls in India would prefer this arrangement to being forced to be nice to the in-laws. But it may not be the best solution yet.

The patriarchal system, flawed as it is at many levels, needs to be tweaked.

Originally posted by: OmNaMaSteOm

In many homes due to the Husband's job in another city far from the parents home- the couple dont stay with either set of parents.

Today's sons from what I seen in my surrounding prefer living by themselves - their privacy.

Another novel solution I have seen for myself is the son bought 2 flats which is like neighbours as layout - aging parents are in one flat, the couple with their future kids in one.

Both solutions are practical & I know personal cases of both.