To stick to this example, why would couples have to do everything together anyway? She wants to see her mum, let her. He doesn't, so he can stay watch football. I think they handle it well. At least if she doesn't really hold a grudge and as long as there are instances where he does indeed go out of his way to please her.
There is a difference between "an afternoon at mum's", and "Easter Sunday dinner". If I were to decline a holiday dinner like that with my wife, there would be Hell to pay because holiday dinners are important to her. I don't know if that's the case with this guy's wife or not - but I'd assume it would be or she wouldn't have asked in the first place.
We just don't have enough information to make that determination. The mother could be horrible. They could already spend tons of time over there. Easter might not mean anything to him. Or yes, he could just be an asshat. But then I'd say he was probably an asshat when she married him, and she picked him anyway
 
  There are definitely things I ask my husband to do with me that I expect he'll say no to (and vice versa), but we still ask each other because every once in awhile the answer is yes. Whatever this wife's reason for not pursuing the argument about it, it's more likely a positive sign for the relationship than a negative one. We can argue and beg and wheedle and cajole and manipulate and attempt to influence and control as much as we want, but in the end we can't make anyone do anything. Not getting into another repetitive fight about it shows acceptance on her part and prevents further damage to the relationship from the fighting.
		If you are from Betelgeuse, please have one of your Earth friends read what I've written before you respond.  Or try concentrating harder. 
"The trophy problem has become extreme."
	
	
	
	
	
"The trophy problem has become extreme."
			Relationship - positive development or signs of eventual break down?
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 08:48:26 AM
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			Helene, I want to give you an answer but...
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 08:58:45 AM
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			Not all inlaws are bad, you know, I prefer some of my inlaws to my own family. *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 01:56:03 PM
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			inlaws are not always bad
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 02:10:18 PM
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			I think they are right
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 10:20:39 AM
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			Re: I think they are right
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 01:59:57 PM
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			I think that's an unfair assumption.
		
	         - 19/04/2011 02:16:54 PM
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			What he said about his wife's mother
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 02:59:32 PM
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			Ew. I would have a problem with that too. Something about that attitude makes me dig in my heels.
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:37:38 AM
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			No offense...
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 02:35:53 PM
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			yes but have you found such a thing?
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:05:35 PM
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			For now I have  *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:08:17 PM
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 *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:08:17 PM
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	     *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:08:17 PM
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 *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:08:17 PM
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			how long has it been? *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:16:32 PM
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			Yes. But it didn't start out like that. Took years to chip away all our rough edges.
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:40:29 AM
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			He definitely has a point about realistic expectations
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 01:56:49 PM
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			Re: He definitely has a point about realistic expectations
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 02:07:34 PM
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			Re: He definitely has a point about realistic expectations
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 02:23:14 PM
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			You don't strike me as the "screeching-howler-monkey" type to begin with.  *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:33:41 PM
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 *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:33:41 PM
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	     *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:33:41 PM
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 *NM*
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:33:41 PM
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			I love just about everything about you Sareitha. Good answers all. *NM*
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:26:34 AM
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			I translated "I will think about it" as a secret but obvious code for. "I don't really want to but
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:34:36 AM
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			that's what I would have meant if I said "I'll think about it"  *NM*
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 02:00:33 AM
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 *NM*
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 02:00:33 AM
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	     *NM*
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 02:00:33 AM
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 *NM*
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 02:00:33 AM
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			The fact that you are referring to a fiancé and comparing it to wife says a lot
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 02:09:27 PM
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			To be fair, me and my fiance have been together for about as long as they have
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 02:57:03 PM
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			I don't know about everyone but things changed when we got married
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:16:11 PM
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			How did things change?
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 04:14:56 PM
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			My husband and I don't understand why people say this.
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:03:31 AM
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			I did say I was only speaking for myself
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:58:45 PM
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			I know.
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 09:01:11 PM
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			Re: The fact that you are referring to a fiancé and comparing it to wife says a lot
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 04:34:34 PM
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			From the information that you have presented...
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 03:50:19 PM
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			I am in agreement with you, and I'm not particularly Christian.
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 04:11:57 PM
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			Which is sad (not the agreement, but their potential future)
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 06:29:47 PM
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			Oh yes... I'm of course not sure. I can be way off base :-) Let's hope I am.
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 06:55:13 PM
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			Could go either way.
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 04:36:02 PM
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			I get the impression that it's more about her forming toward him than vice versa
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 06:56:37 PM
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			I don't necessarily think it will end in a breakup or divorce.
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 04:44:11 PM
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			I think you are 100% right about having a good realtionship with your spouse's family
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 05:07:12 PM
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			I think this is about priorities.
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:07:20 AM
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			Our priorities may shift over time, too. We're still very young and more tied to our families.
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 03:09:54 AM
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			I think it's impossible for me to judge their future status without knowing more about them
	    
	         - 19/04/2011 07:22:32 PM
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			What you said in the original question wouldn't neccessarily mean much to me either way.
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 01:56:55 AM
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			It's not all out "she's worthless", it's more like "she's a bit silly with all her wishes"
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 08:46:49 AM
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			I don't know. *NM*  (I feel bad for the 20 people who viewed this message- my apologies)
	    
	         - 20/04/2011 04:36:13 AM
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