“I just don’t know how to handle it without offending her,” Callie lamented to me one morning. “I feel like Sharon thinks no one is good enough for her son—especially me. I get so angry and want to lash out at her, but I know that’s not how the Lord wants me to handle it. So I just clam up and keep everything inside.”

Since my husband, Brett, mentors Tim, I suggested the young couple join us for dinner one evening so we could share some similar struggles we had when we were first married. In time Tim began taking more responsibility for supporting Callie and establishing boundaries for his mother.

While most parents have the best intentions, sometimes letting go of their adult children can be hard. The Bible makes clear that a husband and wife should put each other before their mothers and fathers. Genesis 2:24 says, “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife.” Setting appropriate boundaries with parents and in-laws is important to the health of the marriage. The bonding spoken of in Genesis 2:24 will be more challenging if husbands or wives let their parents criticize their mates or treat them with disrespect.

If you are experiencing difficulties in your marriage due to boundary issues, pray for wisdom. Discuss the situation with your husband and come to an agreement about how to handle the situation.