r/expats•
mehmehwoofwoof

For any of you married in your spouse's country - are you also constantly with their family?

Social / Personal

For various reasons, we end up spending time at my in-law's every other weekend. Currently we're on a 10 day vacation of sorts (attended a funeral with the entire extended family and now have to tag along with my in-laws for a week as we return home).

My spouse doesn't have the best relationship with their family (especially his dad is a difficult person, very opinionated and critical), but our time just ends up like this... extended family in town so we go to his parent's house for the weekend, we often end up at their house for favors or to escape the city, etc...

I'm going nuts. My partner knows how I feel and we've discussed it a lot. The general culture is much more sociable here, with less alone time. I feel like I've completely destroyed myself to be this perfect cheerful partner with all of his family, extended family, etc (in a language I learned to C1). And I am beginning to feel more and more resentful. I want my own space, I want to dictate my own time, I even have this feeling like I want something in 'return'. I can't explain how much I am turning my skin inside out to be sociable and gracious. I do pay attention to get alone time in, but it's not enough.

Thankfully we are moving out of the city soon, so we will be further, but I'm already dreading people visiting us.

Sorry I sound crabby and bitter, I'm in the middle of the 10 day vacation with in-laws and I just learned that my partner's brother is visiting so we will have to stay at their parents house for an additional few days...

Posted Jul 13, 2026, 10:49 AM UTC

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