INFO:

Emotional incest may lead mother-in-laws to compete with their daughter-in-laws in overtly aggressive and passive aggressive ways. When a grandchild enters the picture, the MIL may feel that this new heir is somehow her property and to gain access to this child, she may behave differently towards the DIL. This can feel confusing to the DIL who may initially feel relieved that she is finally deserving of acceptance. However, this acceptance is often short lived because the MIL is deeply insecure