MIL has stolen my childhood christmas decorations!

[ExhaustedPigeon37]

Hello all,

Bit of a strange one but I think my MIL has stolen my Christmas Decorations!!

They have been in my family since I was small and although they aren’t expensive, nothing special they are just sentimental to me.

We had these three decorations, saying Joy, Noel and Ho Ho Ho with a Santa head on the top. The letters cascade downwards and the Santa has a loop so that you can hang them up. This year I put our decorations up and only found the Joy one. Asked DH and he said he hadn’t seen them, so I only put the Joy one up thinking I’d come across them in another box, I never did.

Fast forward to yesterday when we went over to theirs and they live about an hour away so we stayed for dinner and catch up after DH finished work. MIL was showing us her new decorations and the tree (which is themed red and white). I happened to glance at the bottom of the tree where I saw THE/MY Noel and Ho Ho Ho decorations hanging off of her tree!!! I’ve never seen these decorations at their house before, so the only conclusion I can come to is that they are mine, which is why I couldn’t find them this year!

Asked DH and he said he didn’t notice, asked if he remembers us giving them to her or anything and he said can’t at all. Last year we moved house in

I’m so shocked. What do I do? Do I ask for them back? Do I just leave it? Do I sneak them out when we next go there? DH wanted to stay at home on Boxing Day but I now want to go there to retrieve my decorations (they have been invited on Christmas Day but declined due to the journey and FIL recently having had a knee replacement).

You will probably steal them back then find the original two in a different place. That usually happens to me!

Ask her where she got them from

Fucking hell, what a monstrous bitch.

My Cousin, could be like this! Every time I had something,she wanted it.We lived at her house for a few weeks before we moved home.When I finally unpacked,I noticed we had some missing items.But just thought, time for me to move on.My Aunt gave my curtains to he.My mother gave her my Carriage pramto name but a few.What hurt me the most was when my Nan died,she showed me the photo album of our family.She did not ask me if I wanted any! This has caused me not to like/trust her.I haven't seen her since 2009.I intend to keep it that way! Cannot stand people like this Selfish, entitled,thief's!

I totally get your point, OP. I would be similarly annoyed. But.......
Have you considered that your SIL could have something to do with it? If she is round at your IL's frequently? Before you have any fall outs with your MIL.

I wasn’t here, DH, DSC and DD were here.

I think her dad had Alzheimer’s, SIL has said she will keep an eye on her. I’ll also make sure SIL is keeping us updated so we will try and encourage her to get checked! Thank you

Oh my god, why would you steal things when you're not even sure if they were yours?!
This thread is crazy.

Because they come in a trio, can’t be bought in shops any more (Google image search confirms) and out of the trio, she only has the 2 that are missing! What aren’t you getting?

What you aren't getting is my post!!
Read it...and read who I was responding to! (@bleakmidwintering)
Check before just answering like that.

I don’t think @bleakmidwintering was actually saying she always steals stuff when she loses it 🤣 She was just saying she usually finds things when she loses them.

I don’t think in this case it can be argued at all that OP is not sure they are hers…

No. She referred to the OP stealing the items then finding she had the originals at home, as she has done.

I had a similar thing (although not sentimental) as a kid. A family member a little older than me came to stay and I collected little animal toys. They would come in sets and I noticed one of them missing. I looked everywhere for it as they were all kept together. The next time I went to their house I spotted it on display in the kitchen. I recognised it straight away and they didn't collect these toys. It was in a specific shape to fit with the set it came with. I took it back. I hate people that steal. I never asked about it because it felt awkward accusing them of stealing. I knew it was mine but couldn't prove so took it back.

I hope you get your decorations back.

I’ve got these exact decorations. I bought them in British Home Stores in 1992 (year I bought my first house) and I’ve used them every year since then.
they weren’t a set, you had to buy them individually, there was also a big wall hanging version that I’ve also got. Good luck with your mystery

I think you’re being weird about this. Surely you just pretend you’ve suddenly noticed them on the tree next time you go and say, “oh that’s where they’ve got to! Hey mil/PiL did one of the kids give you these last year? I’ve been looking absolutely everywhere for them, as I’ve only got one of the set of three.”

Then wait for the reply.

For goodness sake don’t steal them “back”!

My mum had the big wall one too but the cats got to it and destroyed it. They must have come from BHS then, as I say I don’t know where they are from I just remember having them since I was a child. I would have been 4, nearly 5 in 1992.

Yes, this would be a good response.

Did your mil buy them from BHS back in the day? They had shops in every high street, they were everywhere.

I have no idea! But seeing as though DH has never seen them before at his family home, nor had he ever commented that we had the same decorations growing up and I have never seen them at her house before yesterday it does seem unlikely!

My first reaction is to sneak them off her tree and put them on yours. Take a photo of them hanging up. If your husband mentions it just say they were at the bottom of the box tangled in some tinsel
sp you overlooked them. But there is a possibility she may have her own so ask her where she got them and yours having gone missing and you want to replace them to have your set back again. If she gets awkward or funny about it and you’re not convinced by her answer and you’re certain they’re yours then simply take them back

No I meant ask your MIL this. Like “oh I notice you have my decorations that I’m missing. Didnmy silly husband give you them ? I would like them back though your two complete my set of 3 and they are special to me.”

Ofc you know they weren’t given to her

Right, that's true, he could have recognised them. However, we know that they were sold singly and probably in very high numbers, so she could conceivably have bought them?

It's telling that there's no JOY on her tree. (pun intended) 😉

Could have, but very unlikely and what a coincidence that the exact two I’m missing and had last year and now on her tree!

Right.
Good luck then 👍

I’m going to guess one of DH’s children has taken them last year and hung them on MIL’s tree (probably last year but possibly this year), either to cause trouble and confusion or just as a silly prank. Chances are it’s the youngest one/affair partner’s child.