Is it wise to vent to your mother-in-law?
While some women see their mother-in-law as the 'Wicked Witch of the West', actress Mandy Moore says she loves her bonus mom so much that she even vents to her.
Women don't always have the best relationships with their mothers-in-law, but one person who is changing the narrative is Mandy Moore.
The actress and singer recently revealed that her mother-in-law, Kathy Goldsmith, is one of the people she turns to when life gets chaotic.
The 'Tangled' star is married to musician Taylor Goldsmith. They have three children together: Gus, Ozzie and Lou.
Speaking to E! News, Moore says she has a close relationship with her mother-in-law.
"I love my mother-in-law. She’s very helpful with the kids and is just a huge part of our support system. So, she's the first person I would vent to," she said.
The 42-year-old is not shy about giving Kathy her flowers. In July last year, Moore praised her for "rising to the occasion" during one "hell of a year".
Her family's home was destroyed during the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, and Kathy didn't think twice about dropping everything to help them.
"Selfishly, I’m not sure what I would have done without her in the hours, days, weeks, and months since the fire," Moore wrote on Instagram.
"She suffered her own immense loss and has been by our side since the very beginning, without skipping a beat."
Many women praised Moore's relationship with Kathy, with some saying they also have a similar bond with their own.
"I have a wonderful mother-in-law, too! She’s a great friend to me as well as an amazing grandmother," one woman wrote on Instagram.
Another woman added: "MILs can be such a blessing, and you are blessed, Mandy, with such a lovely lady! Also, Grandparents are such a blessing to your children. My grandma taught me how to be a good grandmother, and now I am a great-grandmother! "
However, some internet users are unsure whether they would vent to their mother-in-law, especially if it was about their husband.
In a Quora post, users advised against it, noting that she might go back and tell her son.
"I wouldn’t. Her loyalties are to her son, and she will go right back and blab," one person said.
Others don't think it is a good idea to vent to anyone about your marriage.
"You need to be careful who you talk to about what goes on inside your marriage. Complaining to anyone can become an issue. Whoever you complain to will never see him the same way again. Whereas you can forgive him and move on."
A third commented: "Absolutely not. The thing is you and your husband will talk it out and forget about it the next day. Mama, on the other hand, will be losing sleep over it for the next five years. Bad idea. She will only remember how much of a problem you are."
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