@OldPadawan Although this isn't a great answer (technically not even an answer to the exact question) and it does read a bit like a rant, it might help the OP to get some perspective on his situation. As such, I feel this answer does actually add something. @__blahblah In this vein, would you consider editing your answer so that it reads less as a rant, and focus more on providing perspective? — marcelm 52 secs ago

This is a great answer and is making me think hard. I'm wondering, though, if you would say anything differently knowing that "family" is only 6 people in our case (her father's an orphan). There's just my parents who live with my sister and brother-in-law, and my brother and sister-in-law who live about 5 minutes away from them. — SnappingShrimp 9 secs ago