Suggestions for "in-laws" name

[Sandy]

My daughter's MIL and I are becoming good friends. She introduced me last night as her son's MIL, which is fine/accurate.

However, I wondered if there was another term that captured a closer relationship. Any suggestions?

 

[Luanne]

My daughter's MIL and I are becoming good friends. She introduced me last night as her son's MIL, which is fine/accurate.

However, I wondered if there was another term that captured a closer relationship. Any suggestions?

How about, this is my friend?

 

[Sandy]

Of course she is my friend, that works! Just looking for something implying the close family connection.

 

[VegasBella]

"Our children are married to each other" would be one way to say it. It's not a shorter way to say it but it feels more equal or less formal.

Another way might be, "my daughter-in-law's mom". That puts more emphasis on the relationship in a different way. So you're a "mom" more than "mother in law." Similarly, you could introduce her as "my son-in-law's mom."

"My son's wife's mom" could also make it a bit shorter. You could introduce her as "my daughter's husband's mom."

Or to really change it up she could say "I'm her daughter's mother-in-law" and you would say "I'm her son's mother-in-law" so that the introduction is more of an I-statement about who you each are rather than an introduction about who the other is.

Keep in mind that you introduced her to us the same way she introduced you.

 

[GrayFal]

 

[jackio]

I do say "my daughter's mother in law". We are good friends and often go out together. Sometimes I introduce her as "Gracie's other grandmother".

 

[silentg]

I always say this Is Gerry our kids are married to each other which makes us inlaws

 

[billymach4]

In Yiddish, your parents and your spouse’s parents would be machatunim (approximate pronunciation: mah-cha-tuh-num, with the “cha” rolled in the back of your throat). In Spanish, they would be consuegros, roughly, “co-in-laws.”




http://www.cjr.org/language_corner/language_corner_november_decem.php

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

My daughter's MIL and I are becoming good friends. She introduced me last night as her son's MIL, which is fine/accurate.

However, I wondered if there was another term that captured a closer relationship. Any suggestions?

Not sure I would ever refer to a woman as my son's MIL (using the letters or saying "MIL"). That's extremely close to an acronym that carries a meaning you probably would want to steer well clear of.

I would be inclined to use the Spanish "consuegro" (male) or "consuegra" (female). We've borrow so many words from Spanish, and give them many of ours. You might have to be ready with a translation, but there is a need for the word, so let's use it.

BTW suegro/a means father-/mother-in-law.

 

[davidvel]

My daughter's MIL and I are becoming good friends. She introduced me last night as her son's MIL, which is fine/accurate.

However, I wondered if there was another term that captured a closer relationship. Any suggestions?

Lots of great responses.

But, it seems an important question is, Who did your daughter's MIL introduce you to and in what context/occasion?

And of course, if she was fine and accurate, what's the issue? Are you going to go back and tell her what the TUG consensus is and then tell her in the future she should do what TUG thinks?

 

[vacationhopeful]

I would use the phrase,
"We are family and good friends thru our kids".

Or the alternative, "We are Joan and Barry's kids' grandmothers.

Enough said, IMHO.

 

[csxjohn]

I'm not getting it. Anyone who needs to know you are family already knows. Everyone else should only need to know you are friends.

 

[dioxide45]

I would think referring to you as her "daughter-in-laws mother" would be the best way to introduce you. The relationship could also be referred to co-parents-in-law.

 

[geekette]

we have always referred to family by marriage as "in laws". A friend of mine had a BIL's parents that were not nice people and they called them "outlaws."

 

[Ty1on]

My daughter's MIL and I are becoming good friends. She introduced me last night as her son's MIL, which is fine/accurate.

However, I wondered if there was another term that captured a closer relationship. Any suggestions?

Co-Grandma.

 

[Iggyearl]

Brings up the question....

we have always referred to family by marriage as "in laws". A friend of mine had a BIL's parents that were not nice people and they called them "outlaws."

What's the difference between In-Laws and Outlaws?......ANSWER... Outlaws are wanted...

At Christmas, some years ago, my MIL (R.I.P.) noticed a refrigerator magnet that my wife and I had forgotten about. She pointed to it and asked, "Do you really mean that?" The magnet (a gift) said, "Happiness is seeing your mother-in-law's picture on a milk carton." All I could do was laugh.