even though it was clearly
addressed to myhusband-- not that anything is ever addressed to anyone but him, but sometimes the package/card/photos will say "and family", that's MY name, you know.
I opened the package because it was clearly a Valentine's Day box and the kids were eagerly anticipating the love mailed just to them.
The first thing on top was a large heart-shaped note (addressed to Mijo) reminiscing about a time that only she and he would be able to reflect on. Next was a small child's valentine addressed to "Mijo" (my son). Next was goodies she knows he loves, puzzle books and things to help him on his deployment etc.
For her benefit, I just want to mention two things here.
First, I am in the UK. It's a tiny little island, you may have heard of it. Second, he is in Iraq. It is a desert country in the middle east. I cannot just walk your packages to him. By you mailing them to me, I am required to drive one hour to retrieve it, bring it home, re-package it and then drive an hour back to mail it to him. You CAN mail directly to him and you won't even have to communicate with me or his children for 6 months. You have his address... so all I can wonder is... have you had a stroke or are you really this catty?
The mail run wasn't a complete loss. Our Wii returned from Wii Hospital and we all did the happy Wii dance outside the post office (as opposed to the usual "I have to wee" dance that we choose to do when there's not a toilet in sight).
Do you ever feel invisible? Do you have an in-law that repeatedly makes you feel like an unwelcome outsider?
Are hostile relations with an in-law grounds for compensation, say a Nikon d300?
Just asking.
Hmmm, wow. That's about all I can say. That's pretty astonishing that she is treating you this way.
ReplyDeleteAt least the trip back wasn't a complete loss. My kids have only gotten a go on a Wii once, but they loved it. I haven't even seen one; I must be back in the Dark Ages.
sigh...in-laws. They are totally overrated. Mothers-in-law are the epitomy of evil, sister...you are SO not alone.
ReplyDeleteAnd I absolutely agree that it is worth a new camera. And maybe a mani pedi while you're @ it.
I have posted a couple of times about the mother-in-law from hell. Oh sweetie, silly woman, she is the loser, if she doesn't get over herself in time, she will miss out on so much.
ReplyDeleteHollow victory as it was, before she died, my MiL pulled me aside (as she had a wont to do, usually with malice in mind), to stun me by saying, "I missed out on so much, didn't I?" Sadly, I could only nod.
You are much kinder than I. I wouldn't forward anything on under these circumstances, although I would let her know that he'd get her "gifts" when he got home from overseas. She'll figure it out.
ReplyDeletegotta love the in-law dynamics. Happy Valentines Day coming up!!
ReplyDeleteDon't Even Go There.
ReplyDeleteMy MIL makes me so Cross I want to Break Her Kneecaps... if you have a month or two I will enlighten you!! They are a strange breed of woman and I never ever want to be like it... I spent 2 days in bed feeling really sick, plus guilty, when we were last down with my MIL... she never came and saw me in those 2 days... and when I finally got up to help Husband with children at bath time etc, she came into Youngest's bedroom, to say good night to him, asked me if I was coming down for supper, I said no, still not quite right, so sorry, and she just walked right out again.. nothing more to be said. I try to rise above it but hard when they are so ghastly.
Fully understand your feelings! Poor you. X
Isn't she special. Got get yourself a new camera;)
ReplyDeleteThat is BS! I would send it back to her and write "unable to forward" on the box. I am mean like that.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it's worth a new D300. I'll write your hubby and tell him. Feed the candies to the kids, they'll enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteewwww, return to sender or don't pick up again, or TELL HER. Sometimes standing up to a bully is a way to make them back down. That was a gross slap to your children and your husband is not a 9 year old boy anymore. Time for her to get a reality grip. She has grandchildren, get over it. I would be so mad.
ReplyDeleteNOoOooooOOOOooooo! (As in, I've never heard of anything like this before.)
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's why my husband did buy me that Nikon d300 last year. Mabye you should let your husband know that.
Oh, in-laws. It was years (almost two decades) before mine realized that I was not "Mrs. Husband's first and last names" but had combined my birth name with his. I even go by my initials professionally. No one, but no one, had this problem except my in-laws.
ReplyDeleteYes. My husband's mother's cousin that she grew up like sisters with. Since my M-I-L & F-I-L passed away from cancer within 12 weeks of one another, she has repeatedly excluded us from family functions & has always treated me with total disdain. You know. Like it wasn't bad enough that we'd just lost hubby's parents (whom I adored). So, we continue to go to their house every year on Christmas morning, since it's the only time we're ever invited. You Know. Like it's not bad enough that we have no one else year around. It's hurtful & it totally sucks.
ReplyDeleteMother's-in-law . . . where do they get their gall? Mine is . . . ummmmmmmm . . . just precccccccccciousssssssssss. [note Gollum inflection]
ReplyDelete'nough said! (I live by the motto whatever is lovely, with an added boost from Thumper's Father: "If you can't say sumpfin' nice . . . ")
p.s.
I like the "saving-it-for-his-return" idea. After all, no sane person would expect . . . oh wait . . . [rereading blog post hastily] . . . never mind. : D
XO!
The small part of me says send the next box marked only to him back to her, Return To Sender - Deployed Next 6 Months. But the bigger better part says give yourself a high five for the high road.
ReplyDeleteOf course I do think a new camera is a necessity. It's multipurpose, Valentine's Day gift, deployment compensation and pot of gold at the end of the rainbow after the storm you just weathered. And just think, you could send MIL a portrait of you and the kids. Just Sayin.
Blessings, Carolynn
My husband says a new d300 is DEFINITELY in order... and he would like one too :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with Willow Tree up there- return to sender that sucker!
And yes. I understand. Of COURSE I understand :)
I'm fortunate to have a Mother-in-law who pretty much rocks. That said, the past 2 weeks I've been ready to kick my own Mother in the teeth. I love the woman but she is so manipulative it's agravating.
ReplyDeleteSo, I feel your pain, sort of. Sorry about the awkward situation you have to deal with there.
You deserve the Nikon. She's the outlaw from Hades.
ReplyDeleteReally? There was nothing in there for you and the kids? RUDE. Too bad you couldn't just slap "return to sender" on the box.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of cameras... my hubby just told me if I let him get a Canon EOS 5D Mark II (a $2700 camera) that he'll let me get two more cats, and he'll let our two new bunnies have babies. Why is he doing this to me??!!!
Oh my! the in-law's issues are never easy... never. So I'll better zip here.
ReplyDeleteI would start acting as childish and horrible as she is, I would return the package to her with exactly what you have written above!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your relationship with your MIL is very similar to the one I have. For the longest time, I have referred to myself as a "speed bump on the way to her grandchild." My presense is annoying enough to get in the way, but if you drive over me fast enough, you might not notice much.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, adequate compensation is most definitely a Nikon. :)
-Francesca
My MIL has done some underhand things which have irritated me but I have refused to stoop to her level and let it wash over.
ReplyDeleteoh dear....my mil passed away a few years ago...but while she was alive..she was better than MY mom-I miss her. I am like Binders---my mom has needed a kick somewhere for awhile. But then--this really doesn't help you at all does it??? Sorry---
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. You see, this is my fault. Morgan's parents are divorced and re-married to other people, so he has two sets of parents. You would think, based on most people's experiences with MIL's that at least one of them would be a monster. But you would be wrong. I have two loving, thoughtful, generous MIL's who consider me a daughter. I know, I have somehow offset the balance. Maybe the Lord knew that I am just too thin-skinned to deal with that kind of treatment. Anyhoo, I'm so sorry to hear that she has been so thoughtless. Maybe munching on some of her candy will help make things better. And then go Nikon shopping!
ReplyDeletei like ewe's suggestion
ReplyDeleteTotal grounds!! giggle... I too wonder about the In/out (actually I'm outta their circle)Laws! But like you said...you got your WII back..whoo hoo it saved the day... :)
ReplyDeleteIf you ever need to bitch about Mijo's mama, you just come talk with me, hon. You know my FIL is satan and my MIL is desperately in need of prozac. I empathize & sympathize.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful MIL. Thanks for reminding me how lucky I am that my inlaws dont' speak English :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely think you have excellent grounds for just compensation. I think the Nikon d300, is just compensation.
ReplyDeleteSo go for it. If anyone thinks you don't have excellent grounds here, then just have them read over your posts for the past month. I think you have grounds for all kinds of exorbitant splurges!!!
I'm very fortunate to have a pretty decent mother in law, although the father in law, I've never met. We send Christmas cards each year, and still no response. Jon said not to even bother with the card this year. So, I didn't. His loss.
She sounds like a real gem, no? And if you go for that totally deserved compensation, I'll be more than glad to help offset the cost by purchasing your present love.
ReplyDeleteDo not even get me started on MILs - I would run out of space, and I would wear the letters off of my keyboard and I would porbably get kicked off of blogger for the language I would use! Buy the camera!
ReplyDeletelike the compensation!!
ReplyDeletemy in-laws - ARGH - so fake ti annoys the hell out of me - they HATE me - literally my daughter - who is 5 said one day to gma - Why don't you like my momma? AND WE NEVER say anything about the in-laws n front of our kids!!
I still sometimes feel like an outsider when around my husband's family and we have been married for 23 years. I always feel like I wasn't quite who or what they wanted him to choose. Oh well...life goes on.
ReplyDelete