Having not had my own mom for more than 22 years, one would assume that I would cherish and embrace my relationship with my MIL, but I don't currently have one with her. In the case of our family, the relationship between my husband and his mom is very damaged and I have to step away from my need to fix things and let them deal with it in their own way and time. My MIL is complex and has had a painful life - making it difficult for her to appropriately show love to her children and grandchildren. So call me the exception to the rule - my MIL was not happy with my husband's choice of me for his life partner. For two years she called me "what's her name" and then we managed a guarded friendship until events in the past 5 years led to an estrangement. It's complicated - as family often is.