Help me not to be annoyed at my mother

[Anonymous]

She is your mom. She is getting old. Be nice.

[Anonymous]

Mom, I certainly want, and am going, to buy Christmas presents for my own kids.

Attach it to her email incase she needs to reread what you wrote.

Op, any chance your Mom thinks you are not in a financial position for this? It's just so weird of her - unless you have asked her for financial favors.. as in - if she were paying for your visit, or she has bailed you out of any financial trouble? -sorry to ask, it just seems very weird of her

[Anonymous]

How often does she see your kids? Is she trying to make up for not seeing them by giving presents?

If they visit her often, you can leave her gifts at her house for them to play with when they're there.

[Anonymous]

Op, any chance your Mom thinks you are not in a financial position for this? It's just so weird of her - unless you have asked her for financial favors.. as in - if she were paying for your visit, or she has bailed you out of any financial trouble? -sorry to ask, it just seems very weird of her

No. I think the excess of what she purchased just struck her, which I get, but the solution is not for their parents to get them no gifts. I decided to make light of it:

It's sweet that you brought them so much, but as their mom, if I don't get them a gift, they'll probably hold it against me in years to come.

[Anonymous]

I get super annoyed by shit like this...but granted I have a temper and maybe it's my problem. The answer depends completely on the relationship you have with your mom and what kind of relationship you want to have. If I were in you shoes, I would simply say we want to give them presents too, please be respectful of that.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I'd be annoyed at her too. Why do people who are not the parent take full responsibility for the gifts? My ILs think they are Santa and it ruins the gift giving for other people. Just do it anyway. You have more of a right to give your own kids gifts than your mom does. People have to realize there are many people that want to give gifts. If your kids get gifts from like 12 people, then your mom needs to know that and buy accordingly. It's her own fault she bought too much. She needs to control her shopping, not control you.