Reply to Help me think rationally about gifts from MIL

Forum Index » Family Relationships

Reply to "Help me think rationally about gifts from MIL"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]OP, I had this same issue.  I don't think I ever bought clothes for my baby for the first year because my mother in law over bought everything.  It was her first grandchild, she was so excited and she loved to shop.  I definitly have control issues and it was VERY hard for me - they would come to visit with bag after bag of things.  Christmas was so over the top that it was almost embarassing.  We once had to have them drive down with us in their car because the car could not hold all that they gave us.

Here's what I did: I took the things I liked (toys and clothes) and used them.  For the rest, I started a pile in the attic of stuff and at Christmas I would donate literally carloadss full of new toys and clothes to my church.  The trinkets she gave us I donated to an organization that lets kids with cancer  "shop" for family members because they are either too sick, too immunio-compromised to be a the mall, or have financial challenges and can't afford presents.  My mother in law never noticed.  For her it was the process of shopping and the pleasure of giving that mattered to her... she literally had no idea what she bought (and often bought the same items more than once).

And then, she died.  Unexpectedly and horribly.  And I miss the gifts and the thoughtfulness (and candidly, didn't realize how much I was saving by not having to buy clothes).  So if you can, take it with a smile.  It's amazing how quickly it can all go away.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics