My MIL has done this since we got married. Always a gift for DH and then the kids once we had them but we had to buy them on her behalf. Nothing for me. I don't care anymore but yes it used to hurt.

I wouldn't be getting her a gift myself. She would be all, and I mean all, DH's problem. And he could take the kids over to visit without you!

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree with the posters suggesting you rise above it. Give her a nice gift and let it go. Life is too short to worry about how other people act. If you follow the advise of the posters suggesting you react aggressively, you are only perpetuating this cycle. Choose to be the peacemaker and you will never regret it.

Fair enough, and I did rise above it and thus have no regrets. Yet the time came to dust off my feet and move away from interaction.

When my children were openly rejected or humiliated in favor of cousins, a line needed to be drawn in the sand.

Totally agree with the posters suggesting you rise above it. Give her a nice gift and let it go. Life is too short to worry about how other people act. If you follow the advise of the posters suggesting you react aggressively, you are only perpetuating this cycle. Choose to be the peacemaker and you will never regret it.

Yeah, we only hear her side. What did she do to her MIL to deserve this? I bet she did something really beyond the pale.

My SIL once told my mother that she could take all the money she inherited from my father and grandmother when they died and use it to buy her DH (my borther a new car) to prove how much she loves him. My brother divorced her.

Holy cow i thought I was the only one! Not that i want her crappy gifts anyway. Just the gall! I would never do that to anyone.

Ok gals....let's flip our the synchronized birds to our MILs!

I would tell your husband to buy her gifts and have the kids write the note. Forget it. My mom will do that and buy husband and kids stuff. I stopped caring long ago.

Anonymous wrote:How would you react to this? My MIL told DH that she is giving presents to the kids and to him for Christmas but will give me nothing. I know we have had a rocky relationship, but I would prefer she send nothing to anyone in our family if she will be that way.

1. DH should not have told you this.
2. DH needs to tell his mom not to bother sending gifts if she can't embrace the spirit of the season.
3. Sorry you have such a petty, MIL.

The devil sitting on my shoulder is prodding me to write this.

The best revenge is to be more gracious than her. Give her a beautiful gift to her, then take a picture, and then post it on FB. Post pics of who gave you what on FB. Then create another fake FB account and let that friend make a comment on your wall - " Wow, that is a great gift for your MIL! Now, I am dying to see what she gave you!" . Respond back "Her love is all I want!"



Ok, do not do this!

I would divorce DH if he failed to stand up for me and cut out his mom.

MIL would not be welcome in my home. I'd throw all of her presents in the trash. It's not right buying presents for everyone in a family except for one.

Yep, and send nice thank yous if your kids are young, or have them write some.

Would it make you feel better if we started a thread about awful presents MIL have given? Just enjoy your kids and husband.

Did she say why, or did your husband say anything to her? That's just bizarre that she would tell him that and all that would happen is he would report back to you.

But saying that's what happened, all you can do is rise above. Anything else and you're sucked down to her level. If you say your kids can't have repents from her because she won't buy you anything you look petty and bitchy. Let MIL look bitchy. Not you.

Me, too. I rise above it and send a thoughtful gift from the family and handwriting the card .
Rise above , OP, rise above

How would you react to this? My MIL told DH that she is giving presents to the kids and to him for Christmas but will give me nothing. I know we have had a rocky relationship, but I would prefer she send nothing to anyone in our family if she will be that way.