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).

If one of my sons had a partner with a child or children, and they imitated my granddaughters and called me granny, I would be immensely flattered that they thought of me that way. I would hope to have as close a relationship with my step grandchildren as possible. I would do my best to treat them the same, and if they wanted to call me granny, I would be very happy.

Got to wonder if MIL did just that 😂

Take them back and don’t have them out when she visits!

If they’re from OPs childhood they are probably quite distinct in their style, unless she is very young!
they are def OPs, why would MIL only have 2, she’s nicked them, Nick them back!

Then write ypur name on the backs of them fairly small and inconspicuous . And if she asks says oh they are def mine my mum/dad aunt (or whoever) wrote my name on the back and show her. 🤣🤣🤣

This is a very good idea

Ask her where she got them and say am missing them from my house they are family decorations see how she will react that’s only if you are sure it’s them .

You can buy these online so be very careful of accusing, you can not come back. Ask her where she got them as it’s strange how you’ve misplaced yours and need to get some more. She may fess up, she may offer to get you some but then hand these back. It’s knowing you know!

Get them back!!!

I wouldn't accuse her. Maybe they were misplaced and donated and she saw them in a charity shop. There are many explanations. Buy the ones off etsy and swap,them if you really do believe they are yours. If you find yours no harm done.

It is odd but might be indicative of an underlying health issue not yet diagnosed. If, not at all like your MIL to do this i.e. other things have gone missing from your home, then perhaps they remind her of her own childhood and she regressed. Whilst not condoning them being taken, it may best be to leave them where they are for now and keep an eye on her health going forward.

I think they would have fallen into my handbag 🙂

Mil wanted them because they’re red. Steal them back!

This ⬆
No accusations, no hassle! Make sure you put them away when she visits next year though!

Omg! Cheeky cow! Sneak them back & don’t let her find them at your house.

Heavens what a predicament; don’t just steal them back; speak to them both together;
you say you moved could it be they were accidentally left in a box for rubbish & they retrieved them thinking you didn’t want them anymore but they liked them ? it could be that innocent.
if you do as don’t be confrontational just I’m asking because they so much like my ones that are missing that have a huge sentimental significance to me I’m devastated they’ve gone missing I’ve got so many happy memories wrapped up with them xx

So you're sure she doesn't have the joy one?

It’s on my window hung up next to my tree 🎄

yeah I meant more if she has the joy too, then she's got her own set

Oh yes, in 💯 sure she never had any prior to these two that have appeared on her tree!

OK, she could have liked yours and bought a set or told someone she liked them and they bought her a set

Men notice NOTHING! I'm not surprised your husband wants to just let it go, but things of sentimental value are hugely important to us.
I'd just buy some as close as I could find, & switch them. Least said, soonest mended!

...including the time machine to BHS in 1993?

That reminds me of a friend who 'lost' jewellery in South Africa. They hauled the maids in and gave them a talking to, mentioning JuJu and what repercussions this may entail. They were so scared of the mystical JuJu that the jewellery was returned that night.

If OP does that and it’s denied OP never has them again. She can’t take them back either. She loses here.