How to open gifts according to my MIL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Full disclosure....I did not read all of the posts. What caught my eye was the "MIL" in the subject. In the past, I probably could have written a similar post. However, my MIL passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning. My father-in-law lost his wife, my husband lost his mother, and my children lost their grandmother. The funeral is Christmas Eve. I wish I would have treated her better. When a tragedy strikes, you realize what is important in life. If opening presents a certain way makes your MIL happy, then I say "go with the flow." I wish I had. It's a little thing...

Okay, but tragedy could strike a member of OP's own extended family just as suddenly, so maybe she should open the gifts the way they want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, your MIL is a piece of work for coming to YOUR family's Christmas and then trying to take it over. That's ridiculous.

I agree and I much prefer to open presents the way the MIL does but I would never presume to try to run someone else's Christmas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's with all these husbands who can't stand up to mama? Jeez.

She has to suck up and deal. Not her home. I think a lot of in-laws including my own parents think their kids' home is an extension of their own. It's not. I guarantee you sj=he'd lose it if you tried to change how things are at her house.

Just say it's Christmas, the kids are having a good time, shrug and walk away.

+A MILLION

YES THIS! Thank you for saying exactly what I've been unable to articulate to dh all these years.