Parenting

Mom Accuses Mother-in-Law's Blatant Favoritism for Ruining Grandkid's Christmas

ParentingPublished Dec 26, 2017
By Lauren Levy
Kids opening up presents.Paul Biryukov/Shutterstock

Getting together with family for the holidays should be a happy occasion but as many know, it isn't always Hallmark magic when you're gathering a big or blended group. Some parents have favorite kids which bleeds into favorite grandkids. Others from blended families feel closer to those they are "biologically" related to and in one family, this came out when it was time for Christmas presents. After a shocking display of favoritism towards some grandchildren, one mom is calling out her mother-in-law for ruining the day for her 5-year-old daughter and is speechless that a loving "grandma" would treat a child this way.

Grandma brought out "massive" bags of gifts for her "real" grandchildren but not her 5-year-old step-granddaughter.-placeholder
Grandma brought out "massive" bags of gifts for her "real" grandchildren but not her 5-year-old step-granddaughter.

Grandma brought out "massive" bags of gifts for her "real" grandchildren but not her 5-year-old step-granddaughter.

According to this anonymous mom, her husband has been in her daughter's life since she was a year old and his mom is the only grandma that she's ever known. Yet on this Christmas, the mother-in-law made a point of showing favoritism towards her "real" grandkids when it came time to open presents in front of everyone. "When it’s time for presents mother-in-law comes out with 2 massive Santa sacks for brother-in-law and sister-in-law's two children, the kids are 5 and 2, for my dear daughter she brings out one present," she wrote on Mumsnet. "Half an hour later nieces are still unwrapping there presents, while my dear daughter only got a pair of pajamas and that was it. Dear daughter is really upset now and asking why nana only got her pajamas and her cousins got toys, clothes and chocolates."

The mom explained that her daughter understands that dad and grandma aren't biologically related to her but they have worked to ensure her that they don't love her any differently. "When she asked questions recently dear husband said he chose her to be his daughter and how some people choose their families he made a big deal about how special she was and it feels like mother-in-law has just ruined it all," she commented. "Sister-in-law is raging about it and has been making her daughter share so the two of them have been sitting building Lego and eating her chocolate together." 

Understandably, this mom is very upset for her daughter and her husband is equally enraged by his mother's actions. However, he doesn't want to cause a scene and thinks it's best to say something after Christmas. She wants to know if she's being unreasonable for thinking her MIL needs to be put in her place ASAP? 

More from CafeMom: Mother-in-Law Weaseled Her Way into Holding a Newborn Before Mom & the Internet Put Her on Blast

Almost everyone agrees that what this grandma did was simply mean and nasty.-placeholder
Almost everyone agrees that what this grandma did was simply mean and nasty.

Almost everyone agrees that what this grandma did was simply mean and nasty.

But some understand wanting to give more to her "real" grandkids -- they just don't get her execution.

They think it's fine to give the kids different gifts but not in front of everyone.-placeholder
They think it's fine to give the kids different gifts but not in front of everyone.

They think it's fine to give the kids different gifts but not in front of everyone.

Some think that if grandma learned to be more discreet, this wouldn't be a problem.-placeholder
Some think that if grandma learned to be more discreet, this wouldn't be a problem.

Some think that if grandma learned to be more discreet, this wouldn't be a problem.

And warn that she is going to cause problems not just between the adults but among the kids too.-placeholder
And warn that she is going to cause problems not just between the adults but among the kids too.

And warn that she is going to cause problems not just between the adults but among the kids too.

However, many think there's no excuse and wouldn't be able to control themselves.

Some protective mamas would lose their shit if a grandparent ever did that to their child.-placeholder
Some protective mamas would lose their shit if a grandparent ever did that to their child.

Some protective mamas would lose their shit if a grandparent ever did that to their child.

And others who have been the mistreated step-child warn that it can have a lasting impact.-placeholder
And others who have been the mistreated step-child warn that it can have a lasting impact.

And others who have been the mistreated step-child warn that it can have a lasting impact.

But there were others who didn't see the problem because she was surely getting presents from her "real" grandparents?-placeholder
But there were others who didn't see the problem because she was surely getting presents from her "real" grandparents?

But there were others who didn't see the problem because she was surely getting presents from her "real" grandparents?

This mom quickly reminded people why you should never just assume when she explained that this Nana is the only "grandparent" the child has. "Dear daughter's biological father passed before she was born and she doesn’t see any of his family as both his mom and dad had passed away, so this is the only family she has ever known," she commented. "She does know that they aren’t her biological family but dear husband has always treated her as his own." 

More from CafeMom: This Man's Mom Criticized His Wife's Cleaning & His Response Is Perfection

There were also those who think this is a serious wakeup call and the parents need to learn from it.

One person said that if the woman doesn't act like a Nana, she doesn't deserve to be called Nana.-placeholder
One person said that if the woman doesn't act like a Nana, she doesn't deserve to be called Nana.

One person said that if the woman doesn't act like a Nana, she doesn't deserve to be called Nana.

Others said they should stick up for the girl by never doing Christmas with her again.-placeholder
Others said they should stick up for the girl by never doing Christmas with her again.

Others said they should stick up for the girl by never doing Christmas with her again.

When dad confronted grandma the next day, she tried to explain herself -- but nobody was having it.

She claimed that it was all the child wanted and she couldn't afford to give presents that kids don't want.-placeholder
She claimed that it was all the child wanted and she couldn't afford to give presents that kids don't want.

She claimed that it was all the child wanted and she couldn't afford to give presents that kids don't want.

"This is the first time mother-in-law has ever acted like this that I am aware off, but this is the first Christmas we have spent with her, normally she drops the presents off before Christmas and I am unaware as to what nieces get," she commented. "When dear husband was putting dear daughter to bed tonight she was talking about how lucky she had been but asked if she had been bad at Nana's house because her cousins got more. I am devastated for her."

Luckily, at least this mom learned that her sister-in-law and husband will always have her back.-placeholder
Luckily, at least this mom learned that her sister-in-law and husband will always have her back.

Luckily, at least this mom learned that her sister-in-law and husband will always have her back.

After they left, grandma texted inviting the child over for a special sleepover and many are speculating the sister-in-law had something to do with this -- after giving her mom a stern talking to....

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