Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same thing happened when they visited during the early days of maternity leave to stay and see the baby. They started eating 80% of whatever nice chocolates and fruit baskets I got.

I ended up hiding $hit in the trunk if my car they were so rude.

And now every time they houseguest I hide 2-3 grocery bags of the nicest stuff (olive oil club) and my favorite snacks

And no it’s not cultural because they’ve been asked many times to ask before using a new appliance (they continue ti break everything but say they know what they’re doing) or before opening something new up (because there might be an open one in a canister.

They just ram about in their own world while we are at work.

OK, you have issues and are rude. I’d never not share with my family.

Hahaha. Lots of people put away the nice stuff when moocher, nosy houseguests come to sit in their house for weeks!

Now if it’s respectful houseguests who keep themselves busy and contribute to groceries or a dinner out, and don’t break things, putting away gifts and nice stuff wouldn’t be necessary. The nice houseguests would ask first or not touch it.

Op this is unbelievable. You sound like you have showed remarkable restraint.

To the people defending the MIL behavior - that is so messed up. She obviously disrespectfully and carelessly Crossed major boundaries (and it is illegal) by opening birthday mail and gift not marked to her. The fact that she helped herself to her DIL’s favorite chocolates that were thoughtfully sent by her parents, without notice let alone permission, is appalling.

If PPs justifying this terrible behavior have such poor boundaries with their family members, then God help their children in law.

However, I don’t agree with revenge tactics or playing silly games. OP, I would ask your husband to talk to her and firmly state that she crossed boundaries that are there to help everyone to enjoy healthy family relationships. MIL also needs to apologize to her DIL. OP Pay her for the baby sitting if necessary, but don’t let her think this behavior is acceptable or justified.

Your children benefit from having grandparents present (as long as they don’t undermine you as parents). So I would work hard on boundaries that serve all of you well.

Good luck OP! Hope she apologizes and you can forgive her and forge a better new path together.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Same thing happened when they visited during the early days of maternity leave to stay and see the baby. They started eating 80% of whatever nice chocolates and fruit baskets I got.

I ended up hiding $hit in the trunk if my car they were so rude.

And now every time they houseguest I hide 2-3 grocery bags of the nicest stuff (olive oil club) and my favorite snacks

And no it’s not cultural because they’ve been asked many times to ask before using a new appliance (they continue ti break everything but say they know what they’re doing) or before opening something new up (because there might be an open one in a canister.

They just ram about in their own world while we are at work.

Did you post about this before? It sounds familiar. In any case, they sound awful. Can you insist they get a hotel when they come visit?

I remember this too! Something about them reaching up to a high shelf to take down an appliance and it fell and broke, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F your FIL as revenge.

<record player needle scratch>

Omg in 11 years on DCUM I have never laughed so hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was the funniest thing I've ever read.

I've had chocolate shipped from where I live (another COUNTRY) and while it's nice treat (and talk about overseas shipping) I can't imagine being as pissed off as the OP.

And she just watched the kids while you went away.

And seriously, OP...grow the F up.

This. The woman just babysat for you for free. Consider it payment in kind, OP.

This is stupid. It was a kindness to schedule the grandparents weekend with the children. It’s so annoying how some people assume everyone is begging for free babysitting. Guess what? It’s a ton more work to get the house ready for a MIl/FIL visit. I would MUCH rather schedule a sleepover with one of my kids friends or even hire a college aged babysitter to watch them. The grandparents are always asking for more time with the grandkids so this was probably a way to say yes to the request. At least that’s how it would be in my family.

There must be a lot of entitled and delusional grandparents on this board.

I can’t imagine opening someone else’s birthday present, let alone thinking spending time with your grandchildren means you can do whatever you want and all boundaries are temporarily suspended. Nobody needs or wants babysitting that much. (I sure don’t.) And to pretend that it’s a quid pro quo when it’s actually going out of my way to say yes to the grandparents’ request is just gross.

I get so tired of hearing it was kind of the parents to allow grandparents to babysit.

Okay, then stop BEGGING me to let you babysit every time I see you!

If I don’t need or want childcare, how is it not a kindness to arrange for you to babysit???

Sure they BEG to help you out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was the funniest thing I've ever read.

I've had chocolate shipped from where I live (another COUNTRY) and while it's nice treat (and talk about overseas shipping) I can't imagine being as pissed off as the OP.

And she just watched the kids while you went away.

And seriously, OP...grow the F up.

This. The woman just babysat for you for free. Consider it payment in kind, OP.

This is stupid. It was a kindness to schedule the grandparents weekend with the children. It’s so annoying how some people assume everyone is begging for free babysitting. Guess what? It’s a ton more work to get the house ready for a MIl/FIL visit. I would MUCH rather schedule a sleepover with one of my kids friends or even hire a college aged babysitter to watch them. The grandparents are always asking for more time with the grandkids so this was probably a way to say yes to the request. At least that’s how it would be in my family.

There must be a lot of entitled and delusional grandparents on this board.

I can’t imagine opening someone else’s birthday present, let alone thinking spending time with your grandchildren means you can do whatever you want and all boundaries are temporarily suspended. Nobody needs or wants babysitting that much. (I sure don’t.) And to pretend that it’s a quid pro quo when it’s actually going out of my way to say yes to the grandparents’ request is just gross.

I get so tired of hearing it was kind of the parents to allow grandparents to babysit.

Okay, then stop BEGGING me to let you babysit every time I see you!

If I don’t need or want childcare, how is it not a kindness to arrange for you to babysit???

I don’t even ask. My calendar is full enough, thank you. I love it, but it’s a favor to my kids. I do weeks too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was the funniest thing I've ever read.

I've had chocolate shipped from where I live (another COUNTRY) and while it's nice treat (and talk about overseas shipping) I can't imagine being as pissed off as the OP.

And she just watched the kids while you went away.

And seriously, OP...grow the F up.

This. The woman just babysat for you for free. Consider it payment in kind, OP.

This is stupid. It was a kindness to schedule the grandparents weekend with the children. It’s so annoying how some people assume everyone is begging for free babysitting. Guess what? It’s a ton more work to get the house ready for a MIl/FIL visit. I would MUCH rather schedule a sleepover with one of my kids friends or even hire a college aged babysitter to watch them. The grandparents are always asking for more time with the grandkids so this was probably a way to say yes to the request. At least that’s how it would be in my family.

There must be a lot of entitled and delusional grandparents on this board.

I can’t imagine opening someone else’s birthday present, let alone thinking spending time with your grandchildren means you can do whatever you want and all boundaries are temporarily suspended. Nobody needs or wants babysitting that much. (I sure don’t.) And to pretend that it’s a quid pro quo when it’s actually going out of my way to say yes to the grandparents’ request is just gross.

I get so tired of hearing it was kind of the parents to allow grandparents to babysit.

Okay, then stop BEGGING me to let you babysit every time I see you!

If I don’t need or want childcare, how is it not a kindness to arrange for you to babysit???

Anonymous wrote:I would have loads of fun with this the next time I went to MILs house. No package would be safe.

Me too.

Anonymous wrote:Same thing happened when they visited during the early days of maternity leave to stay and see the baby. They started eating 80% of whatever nice chocolates and fruit baskets I got.

I ended up hiding $hit in the trunk if my car they were so rude.

And now every time they houseguest I hide 2-3 grocery bags of the nicest stuff (olive oil club) and my favorite snacks

And no it’s not cultural because they’ve been asked many times to ask before using a new appliance (they continue ti break everything but say they know what they’re doing) or before opening something new up (because there might be an open one in a canister.

They just ram about in their own world while we are at work.

OK, you have issues and are rude. I’d never not share with my family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was the funniest thing I've ever read.

I've had chocolate shipped from where I live (another COUNTRY) and while it's nice treat (and talk about overseas shipping) I can't imagine being as pissed off as the OP.

And she just watched the kids while you went away.

And seriously, OP...grow the F up.

This. The woman just babysat for you for free. Consider it payment in kind, OP.

This is stupid. It was a kindness to schedule the grandparents weekend with the children. It’s so annoying how some people assume everyone is begging for free babysitting. Guess what? It’s a ton more work to get the house ready for a MIl/FIL visit. I would MUCH rather schedule a sleepover with one of my kids friends or even hire a college aged babysitter to watch them. The grandparents are always asking for more time with the grandkids so this was probably a way to say yes to the request. At least that’s how it would be in my family.

There must be a lot of entitled and delusional grandparents on this board.

I can’t imagine opening someone else’s birthday present, let alone thinking spending time with your grandchildren means you can do whatever you want and all boundaries are temporarily suspended. Nobody needs or wants babysitting that much. (I sure don’t.) And to pretend that it’s a quid pro quo when it’s actually going out of my way to say yes to the grandparents’ request is just gross.

I get so tired of hearing it was kind of the parents to allow grandparents to babysit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. For the record, I do and always have shared these chocolates when I receive them—that’s how she knows what they are and that she likes them. I’ve even sent her some as gifts. But for her to open the package and eat some of my gift from my parents before I had any, that’s beyond. And by the way? Some of them are flavored/cream-filled, and she ate my favorite two flavors, which she favors as well.

Defend that, DCUM. Go on, I know you’ll find a way.

Divorce your husband for not inducing MIL to vomit the chocolate.
Or take a day to process and move on.
And tell your parents. They will likely send more.

That first line has me rolling.

Anonymous wrote:Did the box state “Perishable”? If so, and you were going to be away for the night, it makes sense that she would open it. Food items, including chocolates, are frequently shipped with a “Perishable” marking. If this was the case, I would be glad she opened it bc it could have been cheese or something that needed refrigeration. It still doesn’t justify her helping herself to your birthday chocolates but this may not be a big deal.

I sent my sister a delicious cake and it was marked that way.

I would have just stuck it in the fridge though and not opened it. I babysit overnight and I just stack the mail. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed if a package said perishable unless I signed for it. I’m just not interested in my kid’s mail.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now you know what to get her for Christmas

Box of chocolates missing the same number she ate out of OP’s.

Lol

Haha!! Actually, it would be funny to make it a thing. A running joke. All her presents from now on are half eaten box of chocolates.

That’s funny.

Anonymous wrote:OP.

You are rightfully pissed.

I would plot sweet revenge.

I like the suggestions to bring it up loudly and often when in larger groups. Constantly remind her.

Not really, everyone sees through those stories. This calls for some concern trolling. Start with your husband and ask if his mom has had a physical recently because she’s showing some odd behavior… Perfect excuse to never have her babysit again, btw. Plus your husband can tell his dad and family that he’s concerned about her behavior too. Everyone will be on dementia watch!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to guess it’s chocolates from somewhere like Malleys in Cleveland. Good enough that you buy it all the time when you’re local, and get nostalgic for it when you’re far away, but not good enough that you’d rave about it to people who had no emotional connection to the product.

OMG I love Malley's. I grew up in Cleveland.

Me too!!!!!!

I haven’t looked at this thread in days so decided to skip to the last page. This was my first thought, too! I grew up in Cleveland and am now craving their amazing fudge sauce.