Mother-In-Law Demands $100 Gifts For Each Occasion For All Members Of 15-Person Family

Sep 08, 2021 by apost team

Giving someone a gift can be a great way to show them that you care about them, or that you want to celebrate something special. Whether it be a birthday, a holiday or even a monumental occasion, giving someone some kind of gift can show that you want to celebrate with them. One of the great things about giving someone a present is that you can be extremely creative with it and make something at home, or you can turn to different stores or outlets to find the perfect item to show just how much you care. Whatever your financial situation is, there is always something you can do, even if it is as simple as sending your loved one a sweet, personal card. 

Most people would say that It’s the thought that counts. Unfortunately, not everyone has this mindset, and several people believe that it’s crucial to spend an ample amount of money on presents, sometimes way beyond the gift-giver’s financial means. A Reddit user shared her experience with this in May 2021 and asked other Reddit users for advice. She explained that her mother-in-law expected $100 as a present for every single one of her family members for each important holiday and life event. 

While the original poster (OP) believed that her mother-in-law’s expectations of such a huge chunk of change was already inappropriate, she also was blown away by the fact that she would have to give $100 to all 15 members of her husband’s immediate family for every single celebration. Tensions rose between the family as OP tried to figure out how to best handle the situation.

Starting off her Reddit post from May 2021, OP said, “My in-laws are gift-crazy.” She explained that everyone gets a gift for every holiday, birthday and life event. The main issue was that there are 15 young children in her husband’s family, so the family really enjoys celebrating several moments in their lives, from starting the school year to ending the school year. OP explained that when one of her husband’s nieces turned 18, they sent her a card. This wasn’t good enough for her mother-in-law, who proceeded to call and ask if they were doing well financially.

OP was completely taken aback by the inappropriate question, but continued to listen to her mother-in-law’s speech. “You’re constantly talking about trips you’re going on, you post all the pictures of all the fabric and yarn you buy,” the mother-in-law told her. “I’m just wondering why you can’t send your niece and nephews a measly $100 for their birthday and then some for Christmas? It’s the least you could do.”

Shocked, OP couldn’t believe that she and her husband were expected to send $100 to all 15 kids for every single holiday. Her mother-in-law tried to defend this by saying, “They’re your family,” but OP wasn’t having it. She replied, “You’re getting angry at me because I didn’t buy an adult a birthday present? You need to grow up and get over yourself. I’m done talking about this.” She hung up, hoping to get a break from her mother-in-law’s incessant nature, but unfortunately her luck came up short. OP’s mother-in-law then posted about the entire ordeal on Facebook, explaining how “heartbroken and abandoned” she felt. 

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Thankfully, OP’s husband was on her side, and he offered to take care of it once he got home from work. His phone call with his mother was long and frustrating, as she complained about how far away he lived from her and how “cold” OP was to everyone.

The entire situation was completely new to OP, whose family only gives presents on birthdays or on Christmas. “We stopped making a big fuss years ago,” she said. OP also cleared up any confusion about where her money was going, since her mother-in-law claimed it was all on big trips. She explained, “Also the ‘trips’ she makes a big deal out of? Those are camping trips we take to areas around our state.” 

OP asked Reddit users if they believed she was in the right or wrong in this situation. She offered an explanation later on for why she might have been wrong, and said, “I was pretty snippy with my MIL when she was getting on my case and could have probably been more cutesy and chill with her. I get that some people think moms are ‘the matriarch’ and deserve untold respect.”

However, Reddit users came to her defense and let her know that it was actually her mother-in-law who was wrong for making their situation public and commenting on her and her husband’s financial status. One user commented, “I have fourteen first cousins. There’s no way my parents/aunts/uncles could send gifts/money to each of us, nor were they expected to. Gift giving should never be expected.” However, many users argued that OP should have sent at least some money to her niece for her 18th birthday since it is such a huge milestone.

Who do you think was right in this situation: the Reddit poster or her mother-in-law? Do you give your family gifts for special occasions? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to your loved ones, too!