Discover your authentic life and career with Suzy Welch, professor at NYU Stern School of Business and creator of the proven Becoming You methodology.

In this special episode of Becoming You, your host Suzy Welch does something few mothers-in-law would dare to do: she cold-calls her daughters-in-law and asks that question – Am I a good mother in law?

Suzy is joined by clinical psychologist and relationship expert Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, author of You, Your Husband & His Mother, for an honest, deeply human conversation about values and family. Together, they ask: What does a good mother-in-law really look like? Why do the holidays so often expose unspoken power dynamics and values conflicts? And how does insecurity – especially in family systems – cause us to lose curiosity, shut down, and stop asking the questions that actually build connection?

Dr. Tracy explains why staying curious about a daughter-in-law (or any new family member) is one of the most important – and hardest – skills to develop, and how inquiry can replace control without sacrificing your values.

They also explore whether couples can thrive with differing values and why sometimes the healthiest move isn’t pulling harder on either side, but dropping the rope entirely and accepting that not everyone in your family will see the world the way you do. Suzy shares a moving story about her son and daughter-in-law – a seemingly simple moment – that reveals what it really means to face family pressure together.

This episode is for anyone navigating in-laws, holidays, or family tension, and wondering how to stay true to themselves without losing the relationship.