Being an adult male, you would think that I would have grown out of my insecurities of using the word “love”. I’m married, have kids and a family that I love very much. However, for some reason, I feel strange telling my in-laws that I love them and I don’t know why.
Every time I talk to my mother-in-law on the phone, she always ends the conversation by saying “I love you”. As quickly as possible, I try to skirt the response and then in a half-assed effort I respond with “love you too!” and hang up as quickly as possible. When my sister-in-law is over at the house, she’ll be walking out the door and she’ll announce her love for me as well…and I mumble something about loving her too or something like that. Whatever it is I’m saying, I doubt she can hear it because even I can’t understand what I’m saying.
What’s up with that? I mean, they ARE my family…right? I mean, I married into that family when my wife and I walked down the aisle…right? So what’s my hang up here? I can’t even begin to fathom what my issues are in this area. Maybe it’s a guy thing. Maybe I feel like in order to love someone you have to really know them and not just be a part of the family through matrimony. I don’t really feel close to my wife’s family. I see them often enough but not enough to warrant me saying the 3 deadly words without feeling uncomfortable. But if I talk to anyone in my family I always say “Love you” as soon as I’m hanging up or about to leave the building. Of course…they are MY family. So of course I love them!
Anyone else have these kinds of issues with the word “love”? I’ve never been one to throw that word around, but it seems like my wife and her family LOVE to use it…even when a majority of the time they don’t ACT like they love one another. What’s up with that?
A Round World Through Square Glasses 
I think it is a family thing. My family never said it at all when I was growing up. I say it to my kids all the time, but to my in-laws? Never. They hate me anyway. I could blog for days about THEM. Just because they are family does not mean love exists …..
Cheer up, son. You probably got that hang-up from me because you NEVER heard me tell your dad’s mother that I loved her. Because I didn’t. Like her?……….maybe, I don’t know. I didn’t hate her or want to see her harmed, but I would have been just a well off not to have her in my life. She was for her side of the family and only her side. Enough said. I am sure you remember.
What’s with the weird faces on the end of the comments? I didn’t put it there.
It’s hard even if you like your in-laws. Mine are great but it’s still just weird. To add to it they want me to call them Mom and Dad, and there is no way I can do that. Luckily, Chris says I don’t have to. Funny thing is we were having this converstion at Frank’s last night!
I love you man!
I have trouble with it too. I say it to my husband and daughter, and sometimes to my baby nieces. I have a friend who says it every single time we’re on the phone. I usually respond with “ok, I’ll talk to you later.” It’s just weird.
I feel your pain. Is it bad to respond with “Well, I don’t want anything bad to happen to you either…” or something like that?