I failed at Christmas present chicken.

[Anonymous]

I would die of shame if a Christmas present for my mother were labeled with her first name, in DH’s handwriting, and clearly picked by him. And yet herecwe are, because I told him in November that her present was on him and this morning he lost his sh-t because he had t picked anything and I caved...

[Anonymous]

Why is this shameful?

[Anonymous]

Less eggnog.

[Anonymous]

Consider it your gift to your MIL that you pick it and wrap it, but he writes the tag.

[Anonymous]

Life goes on, everything will be ok

[Anonymous]

What is shameful about this? At least how is this YOUR failure?

[Anonymous]

Huh?

[Anonymous]

What could possible be the excuse for losing his sh-t at you?? You told him it was his responsibility this year and he didn’t do it. I’m genuinely curious how he spins this problem as your fault.

[Anonymous]

For his mother or your mother?

[Anonymous]

I'm sympathetic, OP. Don't worry about it - you brought Christmas joy to your MIL, at the cost of not forcing your spouse to be a thoughtful adult. Worth a deep conversation after Christmas, but probably not the hill to die on.

I would say, "I'm really frustrated with how this worked out, and we need to talk about it on the 26th." And then do talk about it, and don't pull punches. I had to be very blunt with DH about how unattractive certain behavior was before he got it.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am with you. I tried to get DH to handle his mother’s gift this year. I ended up ordering something online for in-store pickup today (yes I went to the mall on Christmas Eve) b/c DH half assed it and ordered something from Amazon that won’t arrive until Wednesday.
MIL is a nice lady and I don’t want her to be the only one without a gift tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am with you. I tried to get DH to handle his mother’s gift this year. I ended up ordering something online for in-store pickup today (yes I went to the mall on Christmas Eve) b/c DH half assed it and ordered something from Amazon that won’t arrive until Wednesday.
MIL is a nice lady and I don’t want her to be the only one without a gift tomorrow.

But he went with you to the mall, right? If not what was he doing?

[Anonymous]

I’m so confused. Why would you die of shame?

[Anonymous]

All presents are labeled with the recipients first name by either dh or me depending on who is wrapping/doing the gift tags.

[Anonymous]

That’s frustrating, OP. Be clear to DH that next time you will not cave — and then don’t.