I am surprised no one has yet commented on this little gem:
It is a wonder child services haven't taken away your wife-to-be from these "wonderful parents" in her younger days. Clearly this shows they dearly value prestige ("well, MY daughter married a XXXXX... he makes $XXX,000 a year, and drives a <what-a-waste-of-money car>") over their daughter's happiness. Reasoning with such people is a futile exercise. And to echo what others said, it is often suggested that it is the responsibility of each spouse to handle issues with their own parents... I heard this in a pre-marriage class (ugh, was a "requirement", at least in my neck of the woods), and it has some ring of reason: it is very rare for any good to come from the confrontation of spouse and parents-in-law, since they are likely to "filter" your arguments and to place them in the worst possible light, unlike those of their own flesh and blood.
Anyhow, on a more pro-active shorter-term tangent, think of it this way, if nothing else: you won, they lost. You married and are happy with your wife, they've "lost" a daughter, and imagine the wincing look of pain on their face whenever they are asked what their son-in-law does for a living by their socialite acquaintances.
Oh, and +1000 on Moses' suggestion of exercise... does wonders to calm nerves, alleviate stress and depression, and can't beat the physical exhaustion shutting your body down for sleep. Also, I think it is general advice that if you can't fall asleep after more than 15-20 minutes, get up, do something with your hands or mechanical (i.e., don't stimulate the brain out of any slumber that might be lingering); otherwise you run the risk of associating your bed/bedroom with a stressful atmosphere, which by itself can keep you awake on subsequent nights. I mention this becasue you stated that you lay awake in bed until 5am... you're probably talking figuratively, but if not, consider this advice.
Best of luck, and don't let their petty selfish behaviour even register in your mind (I know, easier said than done; but something to always aim for).
It is a wonder child services haven't taken away your wife-to-be from these "wonderful parents" in her younger days. Clearly this shows they dearly value prestige ("well, MY daughter married a XXXXX... he makes $XXX,000 a year, and drives a <what-a-waste-of-money car>") over their daughter's happiness. Reasoning with such people is a futile exercise. And to echo what others said, it is often suggested that it is the responsibility of each spouse to handle issues with their own parents... I heard this in a pre-marriage class (ugh, was a "requirement", at least in my neck of the woods), and it has some ring of reason: it is very rare for any good to come from the confrontation of spouse and parents-in-law, since they are likely to "filter" your arguments and to place them in the worst possible light, unlike those of their own flesh and blood.
Anyhow, on a more pro-active shorter-term tangent, think of it this way, if nothing else: you won, they lost. You married and are happy with your wife, they've "lost" a daughter, and imagine the wincing look of pain on their face whenever they are asked what their son-in-law does for a living by their socialite acquaintances.
Oh, and +1000 on Moses' suggestion of exercise... does wonders to calm nerves, alleviate stress and depression, and can't beat the physical exhaustion shutting your body down for sleep. Also, I think it is general advice that if you can't fall asleep after more than 15-20 minutes, get up, do something with your hands or mechanical (i.e., don't stimulate the brain out of any slumber that might be lingering); otherwise you run the risk of associating your bed/bedroom with a stressful atmosphere, which by itself can keep you awake on subsequent nights. I mention this becasue you stated that you lay awake in bed until 5am... you're probably talking figuratively, but if not, consider this advice.
Best of luck, and don't let their petty selfish behaviour even register in your mind (I know, easier said than done; but something to always aim for).
It's funny when we fill out credit apps and I list my education level and my wife lists hers.
