MiL who is 84, and lovely, came to stay bringing gifts for the 4 of us. Identical chocolates for all. And a diary each.
DD and I both got one with flowers on it. DH and DS both got diaries from a particular university.
DH went there so no problem with that.
DS was offered a place but has chosen to go elsewhere.
I have qualifications from 3 universities (not this one)
DD would love to go there but is only 15.
We sat (after MiL and DH had left) and discussed it.
It may seem to be a small thing but a girl getting a pink flowery diary like her Mum while the males get Uni diaries suggesting high achievement and academia both annoy me.
I don't have a problem with MiL - she is old and would much prefer the flowery one herself so, in her mind, has given us something lovely.
But, DD and I were talking and if you multiply this kind of gift / attitude over her life then it must make it harder to believe she can be as good, or better, than her brother and males.
Both DH and DS were fairly horrified and don't want the diaries anyway.
Anyone else get this kind of drip drip approach but from women as well as men?