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Worst Gift Archives
October 2002
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Worst gift:  I think my story falls in the worst gift category.  My MIL has always been a big card person.  She gives cards for every little and big occasion.  Actually, it's quite a thoughtful personality trait.  As such, she has always been pleased when I sent thank you cards as well as the usual holiday cards.  Well, we recently got married, and we received absolutely NOTHING from her or FIL, not *even* a card.  It totally appeared as some statement illustrating how little they care for me.  Oh, and of course they had to leave early because they had guests coming over!  What???????  Like they didn't know the date of the wedding for eight months!  She also maybe said 10 words to me the *entire* day, and looked completely put off when I came to their table to visit!  (Some of the 10 words included inappropriate sexual comments during the formal photography).  My husband was very hurt by the lack of gift/card/thought, but has not yet asked why.  I am dying to know, but I don't want him to ask when I am there (it will appear as if the horrible DIL had forced him).  So, he hasn't had a chance yet, since I have always been there with him.  The biggest shocker is that before the lack of wedding gift fiasco, I had no clue that she didn't like me!

        Signed - Shocked to be Hated by MIL

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
Maybe you should sit down with your MIL and ask her if there is a problem.  Keep calm, and just ask if there is something you or your DH did, as you feel that she is upset over something.  Be nice and polite when you ask.  She will either tell you that there is something that she is genuinely upset about, and you two can sort it out, or she may go off on one about how you "stole" her baby boy.  Either way, you will know where you stand, and how you and DH are going to deal with it together.  Good Luck.

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
Maybe she DOES like you!  Imagine how she'd treat someone she didn't like, heh.  As for the inappropriate sexual commentary during a photo shoot, um, I'm at a complete loss there.  I thought I was the most perverted person on the planet, but I can't think of anything inappropriate to say at a wedding photo shoot, unless you count "MIL, get the bloody F--- out of the pictures!"

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
You or your husband should confront them on this ASAP.  The longer you let it simmer, the worse you will feel towards her.  Preferably, your husband should do this, and quickly.  Tell your husband to grow a spine and call her on this, even if it is over the phone.  It is better to know where you stand with her than to wonder what the issue(s) are with her.

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
Could it be that they don't hate you, they are just rude and don't know how to behave in social settings?  I just think that if the only thing you're basing your MIL's hatred on is her lack of a gift, you're risking making a bad assumption.

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
What strange people.  I don't hold out much hope for you that they will improve!!  Don't forget to skip their Christmas gifts this year.  We also never got a gift from MIL.  Her excuse is that we didn't have a wedding (we eloped), so she didn't feel obligated to buy a gift.  She practically supports her other son and his family because they are very bad at handling money.  One of these days I think DH will explode on her because of how much she gave them, and she has given us absolutely nothing.  At least we can hold our heads up and be proud of what we've done.  Good luck.

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
Don't ask, and keep yourself from wondering.  Take care of yourself, and don't let her get you down.  Don't sink to her level!

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
Did she have a big part in your wedding and planning?  Maybe she is mad about that?  Who knows.  Don't let it worry you, though.  It was extremely selfish of her to treat her son and his new wife (YOU!) that way on your wedding day.  If it is bothering you, your DH SHOULD ask his mother what was up.  I'm sorry that someone did this to you on your wedding day.  It isn't fair.

RESPONSE:  Shocked to be Hated by MIL
Your MIL sounds like mine.  My MIL wanted us to leave our wedding reception early, and therefore she kept asking us (every 5 minutes) when we were going to leave.  It was only the most special day of our lives, and it was the biggest party that we ever organized and completely paid for by ourselves.  I still hold grudges about that.  Anyway, you should ask your MIL what she got you and your DH for your wedding.  Say that you are writing out thank you cards, and haven't got the details.  Put them on the spot, and make them explain themselves.

Worst gift:  My first gift giving experience with my MIL was the first Christmas I spent with my DH when we were dating.  They have a tradition where all 30 extended family members present have to open each and every gift one by one.  Did I mention that there are numerous children under the age of 10, and that children don't like to wait the 3+ hours it took (not kidding on the time here).  Did I also forget to mention that it was held on Christmas night (not evening), so these poor kids, who spent all day running around excited, didn't get to go home until 11pm or later after sitting still (yeah right!) for 3+ hours watching people open stupid gifts?  I digress.  So DH (boyfriend at the time) and I had decided that neither family should exchange gifts with the S.O. in order to cut down on expenses and awkwardness (it was first time meeting many of the family for both of us).  So, my family complied.  Well, most of his family did, but his mother did not.  She got me a ton of stuff!  It made me feel completely uncomfortable to open the gifts in front of 30 sets of peering eyes (most of whom were strangers).  She didn't know me very well, but she thought she did a good job (so she said).  Well, this woman loves a bargain, so everything clearly came from clearance racks and dollar stores.  The one gift I will never forgot was the PORNO PLAYING CARDS!  That's right, she got me naked men playing cards!  I don't play cards, I can't stand porno, and I would certainly not want to receive them from my boyfriend's mother in front of 30 relatives whom I had just met (including the elderly)!!!!  It was extremely humiliating.  DH said later that my face turned pale white followed by beet red.  I was horrified that a *mother* would buy such a thing for anyone, much less her son's girlfriend!  Of course, it all evened out in the end, because he got the female porno playing cards.  She honestly, to this day, still feels that they were perfectly wonderful, appropriate gifts.  Needless to say, both went into the trash that evening.

        Signed - PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A G-Rated Lady

RESPONSE:  PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A Grated Lady
Well, at least you only got the playing cards!!!  My MIL once got a silky teddy that was a few sizes to small for her, and she not only wanted to give it to me, but she tried to have me model it for her and my FIL.  And, since I didn't take it then, they wrapped it up for Christmas.  My FIL put his name on the tag, and had me open it in front of my husband (his own son), thinking it was funny.  And, if that wasn't enough, they once seemed to try to invite us in on their "open" relationship with them and their friends.

RESPONSE:  PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A Grated Lady
The only positive thing I can think of to say, is that at least the cards didn't have HER (pornographic) picture on them!

RESPONSE:  PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A Grated Lady
You should have confronted her right there by throwing them into the trash.  You should have told her that those were wholly inappropriate, and that you do not approve of such nonsense.  I know that many people, especially young people, are afraid of confrontation (especially with their elders, who should know better).  But, if you don't set limits now, she will walk all over you in the future.  By then, it may be harder to stop her behavior.

RESPONSE:  PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A Grated Lady
Totally inappropriate.

RESPONSE:  PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A Grated Lady
Hey, I like my nekked men playing cards.  Wait, they weren't totally nekked.  Some had on a bow tie - formal wear, you know.  LOL.

RESPONSE:  PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A Grated Lady
I had to laugh about the porno playing cards!  I, too, can't stand pornography, and my MIL thinks I'm weird because of that.  So, one year she got me all these porno magazines, and tickets to go and see male strippers.  Her comment, when I opened them was, "Maybe now you won't be so weird about porn."

RESPONSE:  PORNO PLAYING CARDS For A Grated Lady
How TOTALLY humiliating for you, especially in front of people who were strangers!!  I assume that you're getting together this year?  Well, I would go and buy her the BIGGEST pecker at the adult store, and let HER be humiliated!!!  Don't let HER get the last laugh!!

Worst gift:  My family grew up on a farm, and my brother still farms it.  I am a vegetarian.  One Christmas, my family thought that it would be funny to cut the horns off of a bull, with the hide and some meat still on them, and wrap it up real nice to give to me.  I opened it, and almost threw up all over them.  It was the grossest thing ever, and so grotesque.

        Signed - So Grotesque

RESPONSE:  So Grotesque
Your family is sick!  Please tell me that you don't associate with them anymore.

RESPONSE:  So Grotesque
I'm actually sorry that you didn't throw up all over their floor, carpet, table, shoes, whatever.  Please re-post and tell us a little more about your family.  Other posters on this site can help you come up with some really "good" (if you get my drift) gift ideas for these clods.  My personal favorite is anything from dollar or thrift shops.

RESPONSE:  So Grotesque
That is just plain disgusting, even to a non-vegetarian.  I think that shows a total lack of respect for you.

RESPONSE:  So Grotesque
Funny?  Words like "perverse" and "sadistic" come to MY mind!

RESPONSE:  So Grotesque
THAT would be gross even if you were NOT a vegetarian!  Does your family usually have such a strange sense of humor?  I feel so sorry for you - that must have been awful  And, shame on them using such a Holiday to express their mean spirits.  I hope they have either changed or you keep some distance from them.

Worst gift:  For my birthday I got a pair of rusted earrings that MIL bought for $1.99.  For Christmas last year I got NOTHING.  So, I guess I should be happy.  But my poor boyfriend got the worst gift.  He got tea cups.  YES, tea cups.  And they were only addressed to HIM.  Freaky family.

        Signed - Freaky Family

RESPONSE:  Freaky Family
OK, I'm speechless!

Worst gift:  I am the gift buyer (between DH and I), and since his family is a lot bigger than mine (with nieces and nephews), I tend to spend a pretty penny on his family.  Everyone in his family knows that I am the gift buyer, etc.  For Xmas last year, even though I can't stand her, I got MIL a gift certificate to a spa, plus a gift certificate to go clothes shopping (since all of her clothes date back to the 80's).  Then, it was my turn.  I opened up my gift to find a loofa - a white loofa sponge thing.

        Signed - Loofagirl

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
Wrap it back up and put it away.  Save yourself time and effort next year, and give it back to her then!

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
From now on, DH buys his mom the gifts.

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
That was pretty damn cheap of her.  I hope you remember that this year.

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
Jeez!  I hope you saved it to wrap it up for her next gift.

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
Oh my.  How tacky.  When you shop this year, maybe you could buy a family gift for each household instead of individual gifts.  That works out pretty well for me.  I buy popular board games or a movie that's appropriate for the whole family to watch together.  If nothing else for MIL, give her the loofa back with a bar of soap!

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
Apparently, the best thing to do would be to simply stop spending your hard-earned money on this woman.  In fact, with such a large family, perhaps the gift-giving could be limited to a "family" present for each family.  Then, you wouldn't have to worry about getting your MIL anything personally.  Perhaps a nice dried fruit basket would be appropriate.

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
Funny, some of us are raised to be thoughtful and give freely.  When I married my husband, I took over the gift giving too.  I tried so hard to find nice, thoughtful presents for my in-laws, each of their new spouses, and my SIL and her family.  For the past four years, I have received nothing, nothing, a towel, and nothing.  I thought I was doing the right thing.  It started out that I was giving these gifts (and doing the shopping for my DH) because I wanted to.  But it soon dwindled into a chore, and I have plenty of chores to do.  It has made my Xmas shopping so much more fun to spend my time on MY family and friends - people I truly love.  My DH doesn't bother with gifts for them, so neither do I.  I hope you figure out this before I did.  I guess I'm a little slower on the uptake!

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
You spent a lot of money on her.  Don't let her burn you twice.  I would purchase a nice, inexpensive gift for her.  The same thing happened to me, and I learned my lesson.  So what if last year I got a broken picture frame and mail/trial samples of stuff (no kidding).  She got a $4.99 bracelet from a clearance rack.  Christmas has gotten so overrated with expensive gifts anyway.  Enjoy the holidays by being simple.  Good luck, and Happy Holidays (this year)!

RESPONSE:  Loofagirl
I am hearing you on this one!  I am more of a gift finder than a gift buyer!  I don't actually pay for my DH's family's gifts, as I, myself, have an enormous family to buy for.  However, I spend as much time finding the perfect gift for the in-laws as I do for my own family.  Every year I spend valuable time finding something that will please everyone, especially the MIL.  It seems, though, that the MIL always buys gifts to please herself!  Not only do I receive cheaper/nastier versions of what she has bought her own children, but I have also received clothes that my MIL wears (and actually has!).  What is wrong with that is she is 60, and I am twenty something!  I wouldn't buy her some hipster jeans and a boob tube!! (Not that I wear bube toobs!!)  Last year, I didn't even get a present.  Well, I suppose that I was included on the gift tag for a couple of items of a dinner service that we are collecting - but even they were from the seconds shop!  Ask for gift vouchers.  I do every year, and never receive them.  DH's sister is also bad at buying presents - like mother, like daughter!

Worst gift:  For our first wedding anniversary, my MIL asked my wife if it was ok if she just bought HER something (for her only), instead of getting a gift for the two of us!  B!tch.

        Signed - For Her Only

RESPONSE:  For Her Only
I'm curious.  What did YOUR mother get you two?

RESPONSE:  For Her Only
What did your wife say?  I hope she said no!!

RESPONSE:  For Her Only
That was very thoughtful of her.  When a woman does something like that, she knows exactly what she is doing.  That was meant to be an insult.  I am very curious to know what your wife said???????????

RESPONSE:  For Her Only
Lots of us would rather have our MILs directly buy NOTHING for us, instead of a lousy trinket for us and a real gift for our partner.  Besides, an anniversary is really just for the two celebrating it - no one else is obligated to give anything, or even send a card.  Maybe for a big round anniversary, your kids will throw you a party.

Worst gift:  My husband and I have been married for almost 3 years.  And while his mother had always protested our relationship, she never came right out and said it.  I spent the first year of the marriage trying to make her see that her son was happy, and that was all that should have mattered.  We had purchased our home last year, and decided that we wanted the big, traditional Christmas at our home that year.  We invited more people than we both had planned, and it was a blast, until we got to the gifts.  My MIL decided to make a big, elaborate moment out of the gift she gave me.  She came over, gave me a hug and a kiss and said "everything is now righted."  She handed me a beautiful box, and I really thought we were going to be ok.  I mean, it had been 3 years.  Utterly confused, and thoroughly intrigued, I opened her gift.  In it was divorce papers for my husband and I.  And everyone at the party knew what it was.  My husband almost went crazy.  He handed her her coat, and asked her to leave.

        Signed - Divorce Papers

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
OMG!!!!  How horrible!  Shame on her!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Take comfort in the fact that the only person MIL made a jackass of was herself.  My guess is that in 20 years, the guests you had over that Christmas will still be talking about what a stupid, horrible person she is.  Two thumbs up to your husband for throwing her out!  Hang on to that guy!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Wow, that is insane, especially in front of all those people!  I'm glad your DH stood up to her, and I hope you have blacklisted her.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
WHAT?????????????????????????

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
I think you win out of all the worst gift stories.  Thank goodness your husband responded the way he did, otherwise you WOULD have cause for those divorce papers!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
At least your DH saw her true colors, and issued her WALKING papers!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Are you serious?  If so, truth is stranger than fiction.  It stretches my imagination to imagine anyone acting like that.  If she did that, she is truly twisted.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Everything is now righted???  Yeah, everything is out in the open now, and she has no way to deny it happened or to claim that it was a misunderstanding.  That's some gall she had to present you with what is, I think, the most tasteless "present" I've ever heard of on this site.  What was she thinking?  Wait, I bet she wasn't, was she?  Hooray for your DH for his quick and decisive response to kick her out of the house after that.  I mean, jeez, was she trying to insult her son as well as you?  That's most certainly what she did.  When a mother rejects her son's wife (or daughter's husband), it's like saying to them, "You are not capable of making good choices when it comes to who you want to spend the rest of your life with."  My condolences to you both, and I really hope you didn't let her ruin your holiday.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
So, let me get this straight, your DH did not want the divorce?  Your MIL took it upon herself to try to get you and DH divorced?  And, everyone knew about the "pending divorce" but you and DH?  Wow!  You have the worst MIL and ILs I've ever read about.  Good luck to you and DH.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Oh, My, God.  That is just evil!!  There is no excuse for that behavior.  Good for your husband for standing up for his marriage!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Holy cow!  What a witch!  I am glad for you that your husband was supportive.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
I can't believe that this woman hated you that much, and you had actually invited her into your home.  I can't believe that you two had completely different agendas.  I hope you threw her out (for good), along with everyone else who knew what she was up to.  This one is REALLY bad.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
What she did was horrible.  I am glad that your husband had the courage to show her the door!  Write her off as a loss, and don't worry about her again.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
OMG!  How awful.  I hope your husband stuck to his guns with this hag!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Oh, dear Lord.  You win the Worst Gift Trophy, hands down.  What an incredible b!tch.  Bless your husband.  I trust that the two of you are now planning to cut this woman out of your lives entirely - no visits, no calls?  I can't see any other alternative at this point.  I'd also be considering new friends at this point, if I were you.  Did they really think this was a funny joke or something?  Some friends.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
This is unbelievable!  I am so sorry for you.  I am glad that your DH made her leave right away.  That kind of behavior is not funny (was she trying to make a joke?) and very hurtful.  I would never have her over my house again.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
That is downright evil.  What a nasty thing she did to you and your husband.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
What?????

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
That takes the cake.  I don't think ANYONE can top that.  I hope that you two have totally cut that B!TCH out of your lives.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Well, this about tops them all for crass, contemptible gall!  I hope you and DH have kept that door shut behind her since DH asked her to leave, unless she has made appropriate apologies and amends!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
This is an absolutely outrageous story!  Your "present" is, quite obviously, offensive and insulting, and reflects that the giver is downright insane!!  Aah, yes, you were wining and dining your MIL, making every effort to spread Christmas cheer, and striving to keep an entire room of guests happy (when clearly you wished that at least one of them was not present).  And then suddenly your MIL just decided to outdo herself and her previous escapades!  While there was no way to minimize what happened, I can tell you that at least your husband wholeheartedly supported you, as he well should have!!  What he did was entirely appropriate under the circumstances.  I wish I could say that my husband would do the same.  Unfortunately, I doubt it.  He'd probably say that my MIL was joking, and accuse me of lacking a sense of humor.  Good luck to you.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
Oh my goodness.  I have been reading this site for a while, and yes, that is the WORST gift ever!  I am so sorry!  I am glad that your DH made her leave!  I hope she is out of your lives for good now!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
WHAT A FREAK!  She just proved to everyone there that she is the stereotypical monster-in-law!  I am so curious as to what happened after!  Just exactly how did your husband and the other guests react to her upon opening your "gift"?  Are you still talking to her?  What about your husband?

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
"ASKED her to leave,"?!?!  It should have been more like "TOLD her to leave."  Or, better yet, picked her up and tossed her out.  I'm sure that if my SIL could do it, that's what I'd get from her.  She stayed with us for a few years (well, OK, it was only 5 months, but it sure felt like years!).  And, she even told me that I needed to move out because she and her brother (my DH) would be better off without me.  Let's see now, he made her leave, and I'm still there.  Hmmm.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
That's one horrible MIL that you have.  What do you mean that everyone at the party knew what your "gift" was?  If they knew beforehand and didn't warn you, they should have been thrown out as well.  I hope you don't let your MIL into your home ever again!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
PLEASE, tell me that she is never allowed in your home, or near either of you ever again!  That excuse for a person has no right to be a part of the lives of two people whom she is so obviously trying to hurt.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
OMG!!!!!  That truly takes the cake.  Maybe on the next gift giving occasion that you are forced to share with her, you should wrap up some commitment papers for her to the local mental institution.

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
I am in SHOCK!  I am glad that your DH stood up and asked this evil witch to leave.  I am glad that she did this in front of everyone, so everyone sees she needs mental help.  For Mother's Day give her a tour of the nursing home you are going to put her in, since she is now crazy and needs assistance.  Good Luck!

RESPONSE:  Divorce Papers
What a %$#@! &* your MIL is.  And, what a WONDERFUL husband your DH is.  I hope you have never spoken to her since.

Worst gift:  My MIL is a real piece of work.  For "our" wedding present, she got us a tool box.  Something my husband really wanted.  Because we don't got to church, she told her only grandchild that she would go to he!!.  Needless to say, my six year old did not understand.  She found out my neighbor's (and close friend) unlisted number and proceeded to call her to discuss why my husband is so unhappily married to me.  This was the last straw for me.  My husband agreed to go to marriage counseling because he was letting his mother interfere way too much (and she lives three hours away!!!!).  The marriage counselor was aghast at how his mother behaves, and how my DH lets her get away with it!  It has gotten better over the years, but she still is a loud-mouth-wants-everything-for-nothing bitch!!!!

        Signed - God I Hate My Mother-In-Law!!!

RESPONSE:  God I Hate My Mother-In-Law!!!
Well, I'm hating her right along with you.

RESPONSE:  God I Hate My Mother-In-Law!!!
Keep working with DH on YOUR life together, and don't let MIL take up too much of your thoughts!  Good luck!

RESPONSE:  God I Hate My Mother-In-Law!!!
A MIL only causes problems in a marriage if the problem is between the husband and wife to begin with.  Believe me, I know.  You and your husband need to listen to each other, and respect each other.  If my MIL told my DD that she would go to he!!, I would kick her out and not speak to her again.  She would have forfeited any privileges with our DD.  That is really unacceptable.  Stand your ground, and good luck!

RESPONSE:  God I Hate My Mother-In-Law!!!
I just love it when people use religion to terrorize people (and, particularly innocent, trusting children).  MIL is a classic bully (I wonder if she would ever have said what she did to an adult?).  Leave MIL to her conception of God as a psychopathic, serial freak.  They deserve each other.  And, keep you child/children faaaaaar away from her!

Worst gift:  My DH was an only child, and my MIL was not happy when we told her that we were getting married, even though we had known each other for years.  My gifts from her included used items that she didn't want anymore.  For example:  Half bottle of nail polish and hose with seams (a real relic).  And, oh yes, once, after ten years of marriage, she gave me a five dollar check that was made out to me in my maiden name.  She forgot that I was married to her son!  The gifts were always recycled from things that she had received and didn't like.  She was also rude and hateful to my son and daughter, her only grandchildren.  I could write a book about this person, but she's gone now, so I'll let it go!!  Unfortunately, her son, my DH, became more like her as time passed, so we have been divorced for fifteen years.  Look at the family before you marry!!

        Signed - Older and Wiser

RESPONSE:  Older and Wiser
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?  Let your story be a warning to what can happen when someone attaches himself to a toxic person.  I believe that you did the right thing by your children by divorcing him.  Hopefully, MIL's legacy of hate will end with ex-DH.

RESPONSE:  Older and Wiser
Sorry for your painful lesson.  I hope you and your children have managed all right, and that you all find happiness, love, and caring in your lives.

Worst gift:  One year for Christmas I received a box with 6 pairs of socks.  The problem was that one pair had a hole in the toe, and another pair had no elastic!!  I politely told MIL about the problem, and asked her if she kept the receipt so she could get her money back.  She replied, "There was nothing wrong with those socks.  You must have washed them incorrectly."  When I told her that they were this way right out the box, she said, "You must have done something to them."  I threw them in the trash can in front of her, and walked out.  Fortunately, DH spoke his mind, left his gift on the couch (unopened), and went home with me.  This was over 7 years ago, and I never received an apology.  Oh well.

        Signed - DIL With the Holed Socks

RESPONSE:  DIL With the Holed Socks
Way to go DH!!!!

RESPONSE:  DIL With the Holed Socks
You don't need her apology, or her garbage-for-socks excuse for a present.  You have her son!

RESPONSE:  DIL With the Holed Socks
Good for you for speaking your mind.  At least you have a good DH who will stick up for you.

RESPONSE:  DIL With the Holed Socks
Good for you for throwing those used socks away right in front of her.  That's what I plan on doing when I get another one of my used gifts from my MIL this year at Christmas.  And, I'm so proud that your DH left his gift on the couch, went home with you, and never looked back!

RESPONSE:  DIL With the Holed Socks
Good for your DH!!!  Yay!  Obviously your MIL gave you used or junky socks.  That is an insulting gift.  I am so glad to hear about a DH who not only saw immediately that what she did to you was wrong, but acted on it that way.

Worst gift:  One year for Christmas my FIL gave me a t-shirt with his company logo on it.  He gets these for free from his job, and the size was way too big for me.  Gee, thanks!

        Signed - Free Shirt

RESPONSE:  Free Shirt
At least your FIL gives you gifts!

RESPONSE:  Free Shirt
I hope you let him see you painting (or something) in it.

RESPONSE:  Free Shirt
Sorry to here that, but at least you got a free shirt.  My MIL has never even given me anything for any occasion.

RESPONSE:  Free Shirt
Geeze, I don't know ANY FILs who have ever gone to the trouble to give ANYTHING (besides cool cash) to their DILs.  I think it's sort of cute.

RESPONSE:  Free Shirt
I've gotten gifts like that, too.  Some people like extra-big t-shirts to wear to lounge around, sleep in, whatever.  If you have the feeling that your FIL cares about you deep down, don't sweat it.  He might have been trying to be sweet.

RESPONSE:  Free Shirt
I recently complained to a friend about a cheesy gift I got (cheese would have been an improvement, believe me) from MIL.  She said, "At least you get gifts.  I have been married for 10 years, and MIL has never given me anything."  Maybe that will make you feel just a wee bit better.

RESPONSE:  Free Shirt
Did you know that in the advertising world, space (TV, radio, billboards) is always the largest portion of a company's ad budget?  You should gladly wear the t-shirt.  Then, send FIL a bill for your services (charge by the minute).

Worst gift:  This one happened to my mother.  Her MIL (my grandmother) gave her cheap, dime store cologne every year for Christmas for 5 years straight!!  How did my mom get her to stop giving that same cheap gift?  She kept the gifts, wrapped all the bottles nicely, and gave them back to her MIL for Mother's Day!!!  Everyone thought it was funny, except for MIL, of course.

        Signed - Right Back At Ya!

RESPONSE:  Right Back At Ya!
Good for your mom for giving it right back to the old battle-ax!

RESPONSE:  Right Back At Ya!
After all the stories of cr@ppy gifts that all these MILs have given their DILs, I've wished so many times that just one DIL would wrap those suckers right back up and give them back on the next gift-giving occasion.  I feel like I finally got my wish!  Thanks for sharing!

RESPONSE:  Right Back At Ya!
Sure, it was funny, but I also think it was sort of rude and made your mother look just as bad as she was.  If your mother couldn't find these gifts a good home on her own, she should have just made a comment about how she is sensitive (headaches? rashes?) to certain types of perfumes.  That would have ended the gifts.  By wrapping them up and giving them back, it made her seem rude and ungrateful - ways that no one wants to be perceived.

Worst gift:  My fiancé and I have been together for 3 1/2 years, and we are getting married next spring.  I had, more or less, gotten along with my future MIL until I got engaged to her son.  He, I might add, is 32.  I dread any "gift giving" events, and so does my fiancé.  Last Christmas, I received a make-up bag, with the price still on it.  It cost $3.99, and that's it.  Now, we spent over $200 on her.  DF received (from his mother) a pair of slippers (size 12, he's a size 10 1/2) and a t-shirt (size XXL - he wears a large)!  For my birthday, I received a little girl's watch (which didn't work, and hello, I'm 30 years old!).  Well, I wanted to return it, and asked her where she had bought it.  Needless to say, it was purchased at a resale store run by a charitable organization.  Why in the world would she buy me anything from there?!?!?!?!  She can shop in other stores, and she does have the $$$ to shop in other stores!  I was finally at my wits end and said to her (not in such a nice way), "Please stop buying me gifts, and spend the $4.00 on a bone for my puppy."  Thank goodness my fiancé backed me up 100%.

        Signed - Please Buy the Dog a Bone!

RESPONSE:  Please Buy the Dog a Bone!
The sad part is that your MIL probably spent 20 dollars on a huge bone for the dog.  Good for you for telling her not to even bother with the gifts anymore.  I wish I had the courage to tell my MIL that.

RESPONSE:  Please Buy the Dog a Bone!
Sorry, but I get really tired of people complaining about the cost of their gifts.  Complaining about obviously rude gifts (see the woman who got a moldy, half-eaten egg salad sandwich and a few rotted grapes) and gifts where there is a huge disparity between yours and others, sure, but apparently his mom is frugal with gifts to everyone.  Personally, I would never spend $200 on *anyone* for Christmas.  Our Christmases simply aren't on that sort of scale.  And, I'd be pretty unhappy if somebody felt that they had the right to dictate how much I could/should spend on presents.

RESPONSE:  Please Buy the Dog a Bone!
Hold it right there.  I think you were rude to complain to MIL about the gifts you received.  Yes, they were terrible, but your husband got cr@p too.  And, nobody is forcing you to spend $200 on her.  Gifts should be given without expecting anything in return.  You are not ENTITLED to pick and choose your own gifts, unless asked to do so (like a registry or request).

RESPONSE:  Please Buy the Dog a Bone!
If you didn't really have any problems with MIL, I wouldn't have rocked the boat.  Some people just don't give good gifts.  My family usually gives 10$-20$ gifts.  On the other hand, my ILs are not wealthy (putting it lightly), and they give extravagant gifts.  I would have held my tongue on this one, and given the gift back to charity.  If she gave you those gifts, and gives DH $200 worth of stuff, that would be different.  But, it sounds like she is just a bad shopper.

Worst gift:  My MIL went to a fancy jewelry store and bought her 2 daughters expensive pearl necklaces for Xmas.  What did I get?  The free box of (cheap) chocolates that the jewelry store gave her as a "bonus" for spending so much money.  And she told me where they came from!  My two SILs were embarrassed beyond belief at their mother's tacky behavior.  My other "gift" from her was a MOP!  And it was not even a good one!!

        Signed - Laughing, Otherwise I'll Cry

RESPONSE:  Laughing, Otherwise I'll Cry
Look somewhere else for love and kindness.  MIL is too stingy to give you any.

RESPONSE:  Laughing, Otherwise I'll Cry
Do the same thing to her next Christmas.  Give someone a nice gift, give her the free gift, and tell everyone.  See how she likes it then.  What a b!tch!

RESPONSE:  Laughing, Otherwise I'll Cry
I am sorry.  I am afraid that this was not a gift of stupidity, but it was meant to be hurtful.  Shame on MIL for being so cruel.  In the end, she made you look like the better person (when everyone else was obviously embarrassed by her gifts to you).

Worst gift:  My MIL has always demanded expensive gifts for herself and her husband (my husband's step father).  We have gotten them a digital camera, thousands of dollars worth of music CDs, a video camera, etc.  MIL, in turn, gives us used things that they don't want anymore, or things that cost them nothing.  Last Christmas, they gave our six year old daughter a plastic butter dish that they manufacture and have a warehouse full of.  She got nothing else - and she is their only granddaughter.  For her birthday, our daughter got nothing, not even a card.  My MIL is the worst grandmother in the world!!  Needless to say, she is greedy, selfish, and abusive.  Three months ago, she invited herself and her husband to our house for 3 days to celebrate SFIL's birthday.  We paid for their hotel, restaurant meals, a boat trip on the lake, and we gave a gift - a pair of pants that SFIL wanted!  Two days later, MIL called up screaming profanity, and saying that we were cheap and stingy.  She asked how could we think to give such a cheap gifts (we spent hundreds of dollars on the whole birthday).  Well, after 7 years of her abuse, I wrote a letter saying we would no longer accept her violent temper and verbal abuse.  As a result of the letter, she has broken contact with us.  Like, boohoo - we really need a psychotic, narcissistic, evil witch like her in our lives.

        Signed - Plastic Butter Dish for a Six Year Old

RESPONSE:  Plastic Butter Dish for a Six Year Old
Why on earth did you ever start spending that kind of money on presents for them in the first place?  Also, why did you pay for their hotel room when they were in town?  This confuses me.

RESPONSE:  Plastic Butter Dish for a Six Year Old
That was a long time coming.  No offense, but you were suckers for far too long.  At least you finally did something about it!

RESPONSE:  Plastic Butter Dish for a Six Year Old
I'll bet you any amount of money that she thinks she is "punishing" you by not talking to you.  Little does she know, you are far from being "punished".  I understand about your gift situations.  My MIL demands very expensive gifts from us, and in return we get garbage too.  For your sake, I hope she never contacts you again.

RESPONSE:  Plastic Butter Dish for a Six Year Old
Why would you continue to buy that selfish witch expensive gifts, especially after she gave your daughter a cr@ppy plastic butter dish?  It's a good thing that she cut you off, or you would probably spend your daughter's college fund on her too.  JUST SAY NO!  It's really very easy!

RESPONSE:  Plastic Butter Dish for a Six Year Old
Good for you for putting your foot down at last.  But why on earth do you buy extortionately expensive gifts just because they ask for them?  That should have happened precisely once - till the time you realized that they were just seeing how far you could be pushed into spending money on them.

Worst gift:  My MIL gave me a giant cartoon character cookie jar for Christmas a few years ago.  No, I'm not a fan of that character, or even much of a cookie person.  The kicker?  Upon opening it up, I found that there were still some cookie crumbs left in it from its previous owner!

        Signed - Glad She Lives Far Away

RESPONSE:  Glad She Lives Far Away
Are you a long lost sister-in-law?  Good God, my MIL always gives me her old stuff as gifts!  I got a nice cookie tin with no cookies in it, only crumbs.  Maybe your MIL "shops" at the same store mine does?  The gifts seem to be just as "crumby".

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