90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way star Jenny shares the challenges of living with in-laws after years of independence

Jenny and Sumit from 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way | Image via Instagram/ @sumitjenny
Jenny and Sumit from 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way | Image via Instagram/ @sumitjenny

The popular character from 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way, Jenny Slatten, recently talked about the cultural and emotional difficulties of living with her in-laws in India after seven years of independence. Jenny, who has been married to Sumit Singh since 2021 and has lived freely with him for years, had become used to their own routine until they moved in with his parents nine months ago.

Jenny acknowledged in an exclusive interview with People talking about how she wish to be free again, expressing her struggle with losing her independence in a home where her mother-in-law seemed to dictate even basic choices, such as what to wear or when to pray. At the age of 67, she is acclimating to a world that is complicated by generational disparities, cultural expectations, and the embarrassment of being overseen by someone who is nearly her own age.

Jenny held her own in an argument, thanking Sumit’s parents for accepting her. Her story is emblematic of the broader crisis faced by reality show couples, as they balance the demands of cultural assimilation, personal boundaries and evolving notions of independence amid the dynamics of an extended family.


90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way: Balancing independence and family expectations

Following 7 years of independence, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way couple Jenny and Sumit experienced unanticipated conflict when they moved in with his parents. Jenny says she feels as though her freedom has been taken away from her,

"I want my independent life back."

Their relocation was a culture shift that tested me in a way that asked if I could balance holding true to my own independence while also respecting culture and family obligations in a way that wasn’t the bubble I had developed with Sumit.


Adjusting to a life with in-laws

Jenny found that moving in with Sumit's family was much harder than she had expected. The transition has been "really hard," she told People, and it has been made harder by the mother-in-law's, often close in age, instructions on everything from Jenny's attire to when she should pray.

"We stay in our bedroom most of the time,"

90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way star reflected, highlighting how her social life and personal space had decreased. Sumit also had difficulty; he acknowledged that he misses their previous level of independence but feels trapped because there is no definite timeframe for reestablishing their own space.

Despite her annoyances, Jenny expressed gratitude for being welcomed into the family, describing it as "a big miracle in itself." These disclosures brought to light the emotional complexities involved in reconciling India's traditional traditions of extended family life with free-spirited individuality.


The ongoing search for balance and belonging

Jenny's circumstance demonstrates the subtle yet significant changes an independent person must undergo when adjusting to a multigenerational family. Her statement that she wants to take back the life they had,

"It's all put together my way," reflects a desire for identity and independence in addition to physical space.

Although his parents are hesitant to let him go, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way's Sumit acknowledges her unease and acknowledges that the arrangement is challenging. The couple's path currently focuses on finding a balance between maintaining their own rhythm and gaining acceptance from their family, even if there is no set schedule for when they will return to independent living.

Anyone exploring cultural integration can relate to Jenny's tale, which demonstrates that personal limits are frequently necessary for love and acceptance within a family.


Watch 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way on TLC.

Edited by Gouri Maheshwari