There are different types of mothers-in-law. Some continually try to unsettle their sons- or daughters-in-law through little jabs and demeaning comments, often leading many of them to become addicted to pills or even alcohol. Then there is the schemer, who expresses her treacherous, malicious, and insidious remarks always out of reach of the person affected. It is difficult to defend oneself once one has managed to see through the intrigues. Most of the time, she chooses situations for her attacks that contain a small grain of truth, but are twisted so senselessly that the question "How are you?" turns into an order: "Shut up, you!" Her primary role involves supervising and humiliating the son- or daughter-in-law living with her daughter.