Back to the nest

Couples are moving back to their in-laws for better life.
  

(Mother-in-love: Saas-bahu relationship
has gone through a makeover in today’s times)

TYPE the word motherin-law on a search engine and the web pages that pop up are all with negative connotations — from jokes on them to counseling on how to deal with a motherin-law. Don’t be surprised if you even find a group called ‘I hate my mother-in-law’, which boasts of more than thousand members. So is staying with a mother-in-law really a nightmare?
When we asked the same question to a few daughtersin-law, the answer that echoed was, ‘They are not as bad as portrayed.’ As Meera Singh, an IT professional who has been married for more than two years, and has a little one to take care of says, “Life is way too easy with parents in the house. You are not only relieved because there’s someone to love and care for your children while you are away at work, but you’re also assured that the upbringing of your child is in the right hands. The idea of leaving my daughter at a child care centre or with a babysitter frightened me. But, when I discussed this issue with my mother-in-law she was really happy to come over and stay with us.” Today Meera is quite happy and satisfied. But is it just because you want some one to take care of your little one that you welcome your in-laws? Richa Jain, who recently got married and is staying with her in laws, denies, “The trend has changed because the understanding between the two is a lot better now. A mother-inlaw is no longer the ‘moral cop’ keeping a check on her bahu’s every move. In fact, she is cooperative and understanding. Also, as a daughter-in-law we understand the importance of having elders at home.”

There was a time when rifts between a daughter-inlaw and mother-in-law were common and families opted to go the nuclear way. But today, scores of youngsters are opting to live with their parents-in-law. Maitreyee Godbole, who has been married for over three years and is a working professional explains, “It’s always nice to have elders at home. The value system and the principles they teach us just cannot be replaced. And it’s not just about our convenience that we opt to stay with them; it’s more to do with love and care.” Definitely it is! And the equation between the two could not have got better than this where a saas asks the bahu to go out and fulfill her dreams asking them to be relieved of household chores and tensions. States daughter-in-law Snehal Modi, “It was my mom-in-law who looked up for a job for me in the newspapers. She wanted me to go out and pursue my goals. What more can one ask for?”

Guess, the days of the saasbahu drama and fights are over. With mutual love brewing between them, guess the saas-bahu saagas will now have to look elsewhere for their story ideas. Truly, it’s all about loving your in-laws!