How to Cope with an Overbearing Mother-in-Law

Perhaps your mother-in-law is easygoing and respectful of boundaries. But in the event she has an irritating habit of butting into your marriage and complicating your personal life a little too often, understanding the tendencies of her Sun sign will help you find the best way to cope with this potentially delicate situation.

An Aries mother-in-law is unlikely to become too invasive of your domestic life, but she does love a good argument every now and then. If you make sure you give as good as you get, you'll gain her respect. Also, you'll need to grow a thick skin since she's likely to be very direct in her comments.

Taurus can be stubborn and possessive of her son, so although she may appear cool and calm, deep down she really wants to control all things familial. Confronting her simply won't work. Instead, feed her plenty of fine food to satisfy her expensive taste, and be sure not to live too close to her. Ultimately, she'll prefer to stay in her own home.

Gemini can be detached and not very empathetic. She isn't all that great with kids, either, since she's not big on noise and distraction. That said, she can help older children with their homework, so keep her busy with creative projects when she comes over.

Cancer can be jealous and, like Taurus, possessive. Approach her gently since bluntness will only make matters worse. You'll have to adjust your attitude a bit, because it's a given that she just won't budge. Let any negativity she radiates simply roll off your back.

Though demanding at times, Leo is a family lioness at heart and will take any burdens off your hands when you need a rest. Just drown her in compliments and she'll be on your side. And never forget her birthday since she absolutely adores presents!

Virgo tends to be a know-it-all. She'll find dirt in every corner, even when you've just cleaned the house. So, put her attention to detail to good use by handing her a dustpan and a mop -- after all, she loves cleaning! And it actually wouldn't hurt if you took some of her advice about food.

Libra can be critical of anything that falls below her high standards. She tends to get along better with men, so let your husband do the entertaining, or invite male friends over when she's visiting. Just know that her tendency to contradict you is just her Libran way of balancing the scales.

Scorpio can be suspicious of anyone coming into the family. You'll need to be strategic since she can be downright rude at times. Don't let her think that she's gaining control of the situation -- you must stand up for yourself!

Sagittarius isn't particularly domestic, but she may act at times like she knows the answer to everything. Distract her by having her play adventure games with your children, or supply her with travel brochures to plan her next trip far, far away.

Capricorn can be dismissive, so appeal to her heart. It's important to her that her family makes her proud, so always let her know when her grandkids get good grades at school or her son does well at work. Also, take any and all steps to be the perfect hostess when she comes to visit.

Aquarius is friendly rather than fussy. Do your best to treat her like one of your own girlfriends, and invite older friends over when she's visiting. And if you leave a pile of the latest novels on the coffee table, chances are she'll just sink into an armchair and get lost in a good story.

Pisces can be either timid or forthright; if she's the latter, her resistance to rational thought can be intense. Remain calm and let her angst play out. She loves eating and drinking, so keep her appetite satiated and she'll eventually return to her senses.