My in laws haven't seen us for almost 2 yrs, my sone is now four, and last birthday and Christmas, he got no presents from them, which is fine, he wouldn't know them if they passed us in the street. They rang my son on his birthday,but only at a time they knew I was at work - I am a teacher, so 9.15am on a Tuesday morning is almost a cert I am at work (something else that apparently makes me evil, we should all be at home, keeping house!!!)
They hate me, long story but basically I took their precious son away from them, except he wasn't that precious until he stopped being at their beck and call and now he is precious when it suits them.
My husband is in the forces, and we are lucky enough to live quite close to my family, however we used to live close to his family where they still ignored us unless it suited them.
They were vile to me when I was pregnant with my son, telling me they were disappointed he was a boy is one particular thing I can never forgive them for (we had 3 miscarriages before we had him).
This year, they sent my husband a birthday card to our house in november, knowing he was away for almost 3 months and not due back until now, saying they were coming up last weekend to visit. My parents were going away for Christmas this year, so in fact 6 months ago we set that weekend aside for a big family get together with my brother and his family!
Needless to say, our plans carried on and they didn't come up, but today, this huge box arrived from them with Christmas presents for my son, hubby, and me (she can have them back, I have no interest in opening them, in fact it would be hypocritical given my feelings). It also contained a birthday present for my son.
This is the bit that has made all the old feelings of anger surface. She knows how I feel about the army, I hate the fact that my husband is in the army, and I hate everything to do with it. I don't take part in anything to do with the army, and even my husband considers it just a job and would get out if he hadn't the pension looming to consider. So guess what she got my son....... Yep, hm armed forces full dressing up kit complete with face paints. I was so angry. Of course, once he opened it he wanted to put it on, so what could I say!!! Thankfully after 20 min he decided it was rubbish and took it off, but when I told my husband I wasn't happy he said oh well my mum didn't know. Arghhhhhh it's like he has wiped his memory of the fuss we both made when she gave my son a camouflage fleece at six months old - he said something like there is no way any child of mine is wearing that, I'm not brainwashing him.
I am not really angry at my husband, it hurts him that his parents treat us the way they do, but it irritates me t hat he is bought by a few crappy presents.
What makes me really angry is that 1. His parents think they can buy me over with some tat that I don't even want, and 2. They bought a bloody army outfit for my child when they know I'd rather break both his legs than let him ever consider joining the armed forces and am totally against a four year old dressing like a soldier.
Sorry but I really needed to get that off my chest!missing not having my mum here to talk to about it!
Thanks if you read this far!