Part 1: In-Laws and Outlaws

1 Married to a Mob Figure out what an in-law is and why yours are important. While we're at it, why not scamper up your family tree?

2 So, What's the Problem? See what benefits come from good relations with your in-laws-and then see why it's often so hard to get along with your kith and kin!

3 Guilty Until Proven Innocent Determine how well you and your in-laws get along with each other by taking my easy "In-Law Survival Test."

4 Ground Rules Find out what makes a dreadful in-law and learn some strategies for improving your relationship with your in-laws.

5 First Contact Learn how first impressions can make or break your future in the family. Then find out how to start off on the right foot.

6 The Name Game Discover how to settle on mutually agreeable titles for your in-laws--and why it's so crucial to do so.

Part 2: Trouble in Paradise

7 Wedding Bell Blues...or How to Make Sure That Rice Is the Only Thing That's Thrown See why weddings cause such tension among in-laws and discover how you can make your special day go as smoothly as possible.

8 Mommy-In-Law Dearest Explore the problems that mothers-in-law can cause and learn how you can deal with these problems without ripping out your hair.

9 Daddy-In-Law Dearest Explore the problems that fathers-in-law can cause and learn how you can deal with these problems without ripping out their hair.

10 Crazy Quilt Discover how America is changing and what this means for you and your in-laws. Hop on the multicultural bandwagon, too!

11 Vive la Difference! See what other challenges in-laws can pose to family harmony, including the in-laws' reactions to same-sex relationships, religious differences, serial monogamy, and age differences.

12 Evolution's Missing Link Find out what happens if your in-laws aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer.

Part 3: In-Law and Order

13 Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You Probe the four stages of adjustment: Greeting, Meeting, Seating, Completing.

14 Home for the Holidays--But Whose Home? Have a happier holiday--thanks to this chapter! Find out how to keep screwball in-laws in line at holiday time.

15 Power Plays Learn how power struggles determine your place within the family and how to adjust the balance of power--in your favor.

16 Gilt Trip Discover why money is such a hot issue in nearly all families and how you can deal with loans and gifts to and from in-laws.

17 Taking Care of Business Get the facts on family businesses; decide if you want to join the in-laws in the family firm; and see how battles over money, power, sibling rivalry, and succession can rip the family business to shreds.

Part 4: And Baby Makes Power Play

18 Sexpectations See why sex is more explosive than an A-bomb--and learn how to cope with the fallout.

19 Kidding Around with the In-Laws Discover why your in-laws pressure you to have a baby and how to deal with their demands to reproduce. Develop strategies for in-laws' insensitivity to adoption.

20 Baby Talk Explore the world of grandparenting and see how the arrival of a baby can throw your in-laws off balance. Then learn how to deal with critical grandparents, difficult grandparents, and overly generous ones.

21 Childfree--By Chance or Choice Decide how you feel about children, defend your choice not to have kids, and explore the pain of infertility.

Part 5: Circumstance-in-Law

22 A Monkey Wrench in the Works: Ailing In-Laws Discover how ailing in-laws bring out the best--and worst--in all of us and learn ways to deal with this.

23 Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson Find out about abuse within families and learn when to put up--and when to shut up.

24 The March of Time: When In-Laws Age Explore the aging of America, survey your in-laws to discover their needs, and discover how to build bridges as the in-law situation ripens.

25 The Relatives Formerly Known as "In-Laws" See what stages people go through when a couple dissolves through death or divorce and learn how to adjust to these changes.

Index