Grooms

Some years back I wrote a regular column for a national bridal magazine which I called, "For the Groom." The idea was simple. Write about weddings--but from the groom's perspective.

I wrote columns about gifts for groomsmen, bachelor parties, and how to pick out a tux. I wrote about wedding rings and rehearsal dinners. I also wrote one column about how to get along with the mother-in-law.

Of course, this is a loaded subject, but a man can earn the heart and trust of his mother-in-law if but follows three basic principles.

Principle one: Tell her she looks as young as your wife. This works well in the early years of marriage, or until your wife begins to look like a grandmother herself!

Principle two: Rave about her cooking, especially if she is willing to grill steaks, brauts, and marinated pork chops.

Principle three: When you are in the presence of the mother in law, fawn over the wife and children, kiss them repeatedly, and otherwise demonstrate that, if your wife hadn't married YOU she would be living in a shanty down by the river and the kids would be eating bread crusts off the street.

Guys...I hope you've found this little chat helpful!