Mother-in-law: LaVetta (56), Human Resources Business Partner

Father-in-law: Lonnie (57), Director of Facilities

Son-in-law: Luke (28), Senior Product Marketing Manager

Daughter: Lindsay (30), Registered Behavior Technician

location: Phoenix, Arizona

Newlyweds Living With Their In-Laws

Lonnie and LaVetta never would have guessed that the little white kid in their Sunday school who referred to himself as “white mamba” would be married to their daughter Lindsay! Luke has known his in-laws for practically his entire life, especially with his father being the minister of their church. Son and Mother-In-Law first met through the church when Luke was only eight years old. Luke and Lindsay started dating in High School but when college rolled around, Luke started questioning his future with the church and wanted to make some life experiences outside of that world. He and Lindsay broke up and he went off to Minneapolis.

Luke and LaVetta have a very special bond. They will constantly be on FaceTime and when Luke hears Lindsay on the phone with LaVetta, he will take the phone away from her and have his own hours-on-end conversation. Whenever he and Lindsay are having problems, he goes straight to the manufacturer to complain as well as get advice from LaVetta. Before LaVetta was his in-law she was like an aunt to Luke. The four of them will go on double dates frequently and their favorite thing to do is karaoke. It’s a constant party when LaVetta and Luke are together with music and dancing!

As a wedding gift, LaVetta and Lonnie have allowed Lindsay and Luke to stay rent free in their Phoenix Arizona home while they save up and buy a house of their own. Lonnie and LaVetta live with them roughly two weeks out of every month as they have another home in Los Angeles. Luke and Lindsay discovered that they might relate more to a different Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show, when they received a text from LaVetta asking what they ordered for dinner after the delivery man left. The home has full coverage cameras and LaVetta keeps them on their toes as their number one viewer!

Luke was raised in a conservative Christian church and household. He knew that he didn’t believe in God, but forced himself to be someone else in order to make his parents happy. He left the church, causing a major rift with his parents. He eventually wrote them an important letter stating that he’s going to live his life in his own way, and they could accept it, or not, but he couldn’t live for them any longer. LaVetta has stood by Luke’s side supporting him throughout this journey. However, it’s been complicated for LaVetta because she is friends with Luke’s mom as they all went to the same church.

Part of Luke and Lindsay’s break-up had to do with Luke leaving the church. Eventually, Luke and Lindsay made their way back to each other and started dating again, which meant that Luke had to also rebuild the relationship with her parents. Lonnie was NOT quick to re-accept Luke back into the fold because of how he hurt his daughter. Luke apologized to Lonnie and asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Lonnie made Luke grovel, but eventually gave his blessing. The truth is: Luke is much more comfortable being his true self around his in-laws. He can eat, drink, be loud, and even swear. He can let it all hang out, especially with LaVetta, who treats him like a son. Luke can carry on and misbehave with LaVetta, but Lonnie is a very different story…

Luke struggles being able to tell where the line between fun and disrespect lies. For example, Luke once took an old wig of LaVetta’s out of the trash and ran around the house with is on his head! He didn’t see the harm in making a funny Tik Tok video with it. However, this opened a larger conversation for them about being sensitive to where those boundaries are especially surrounding culture. Lonnie is old-school, stern, stoic and commands respect. Although he and Luke can watch sports and drink a beer, their connection doesn’t cross boundaries like Luke and Lavetta’s does. LaVetta is nurturing, forgiving and compassionate to Luke, whereas Lonnie’s sub-text is: “you need to man up and support my daughter in the way she deserves. Or else.”

Lindsay and Luke tied the knot in Cancun for their destination wedding this past January. Luke still the party boy, was spotted by Lavetta and Lonnie two hours before the ceremony still wearing his clothes from the night before with a shiner on his forehead! In typical Luke fashion, he was able to pull it off with flying colors and everything went without a hitch. But it does raise the question: are Luke’s partying days really over? And will he eventually break Lindsay’s heart like he has done once before?

Now that they are living in Phoenix without knowing anyone, Luke’s instinct is to find the close bar and group of guys and go party. Lindsay who is still part of the church, wants to make new friends in a more traditional, “adult” manor. Lonnie contends that the young couple can’t live in their home forever and will kick them out eventually. LaVetta, isn’t so sure as she loves having Luke and Lindsay live with her. Clearly Lonnie and LaVetta are not on the same page as it relates to their son-in-law…