In-laws are a big part of making a relationship work. Getting along with your in-laws will mean that you have an ally in conflicts, or at the very least a voice of reason instead of an opposing voice. In fact, acrimonious relationships with in-laws is one of the top reasons why there is conflict within a relationship in the first place. There are a lot of ways that you can create a good relationship with your in-laws in order to have a harmonious relationship with your significant other.

Be supportive, but not contributing

Inevitably, your partner will have disputes with members of his or her family. Most of the time, you will end up being the sounding board for the frustrations that your partner is feeling over that particular family member. A lot of people see this as an opportunity to vent some of their own frustrations with the in-law in question. This can be a huge mistake. While it may seem as though your partner is really angry at her mother or his brother at the time, adding your own thoughts on the failings of the in-law will do more harm than good. It might lead to a fight of your own, and it will definitely mean some hard feelings when the spat is over. It might even get back to the in-law. It's best to be supportive when issues come up, but talking through the problem in such a way that the fight comes to a good conclusion will not only help your own relationship, the odds are good it will get back to the in-laws and your relationship there will improve as well.

In person

Some in-laws are just impossible to like. For the sake of your significant other, though, you will have to be in a room with them every once in a while. Try not to act like this is a chore. Be a part of conversations without forcing them, and try to not answer questions in monosyllables. Try your best to be effusive, and your relationship might change.

Time will tell

As in all things, time is the great equalizer when it comes to your relationship with your in-laws. Try to remember that your significant other and his or her family have had decades to figure out where they all stand in the family order, and how to react to any given situation. As a newcomer, it can be frightening and difficult to figure out where you fit in with this dynamic. Given time and a lot of patience, everything will eventually come together naturally.