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).

Just to cover yourself check on line to see if they are freely available anywhere else If not just take them back. I’m interested to know what opportunity she would have had to take them? Has she been alone in the house at any time ? Did you give her anything ( clothes etc ) where they may have got mixed up with the bag ?

I'd be giving DH an ultimatum - go and get these back from your mother, or I will have it out with her directly, and you know how that'll go. No way I would let him shirk taking responsibility for his own family.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/7232037923-hanging-father-christmas-noel

There is a Noel one on vinted for £5. I think I would replace as you have no proof that yours were stolen. I don’t think I would rock the boat for some vintage old decs if I could find them elsewhere still. If they were sold in Woolworths they could realistically be her own!

Ask her where she got them and maybe mention you are looking to replace ones just like them.
if she doesn’t have form for this be wary about jumping to conclusions.

Unlikely but I would get that, take my own two back and replace mine with that. Suddenly the Noels have multiplied in the most confusing way.

This!

Our family are in the process of decorating our tree tonight and I have put this debate to them....unanimous vote for visiting the in laws and slipping them in your bag to bring home.
They are blatantly yours, what are the odds she has the same decorations as you but is missing the only one you still have?!

It could become a family tradition, you sneak 'em back this year, she pinches 'em back next year. Hohoho.

Nick em back, then when she is due to come round, take them ALL down. Then have a bloody good cackle about it with your daughter!

Hahaha! 🤣

My daughter is also in the steal them back camp 🤣

All this drama over a few decorations.

It’s far too big but thank you anyway!

Yeah - steal them back most definitely. Cheeky woman!! Make sure yours are definitely missing first though!

I think you should buy the one on Vinted and swap it for one of the ones of yours she stole, just to confuse matters.

I am very invested in this thread. Good luck OP.

Could they have accidentally been sent to them with something after last Christmas and she thinks you give them to her? You said you had moved house, could there have been a mix up? Seems strange to steal them and yet put them on show.

Have you got a date yet for “popping your FIL pressie over”?? Don’t leave it til Boxing Day!! Then just quietly take them back, no drama. If she asks just say you don’t know anything about it but you also lost some similar ones, what’s going on etc.

No need to quote first post as we have all seen it… no op also addressed this point in an update. They had Xmas in their current house last year.

Omg 🤣

If you take them & she notices they are gone & accuses you, you could always say "why would I take them when I have my own at home?"

Take them back ~ don't say anything just take. As someone else suggested put a small mark on them somewhere with a permanent marker so no dispute if it happens again. You can buy an anti theft pen on Amazon for about £3.

This is your husband’s problem to address!

Ah this is the answer. Get some similar only bigger to replace MILs robbed items with when you retrieve them. That will really confuse her! 🤣 You HAVE to let us know how this pans out it's way more interesting than any TV shows airing at the moment. Maybe you should write the movie and sell the rights. Christmas comedy. Hugh Grant as FIL etc.

Then 'you' obviously don’t have a sentimental (or honest), bone in your body.
The decorations belong to the OP, end of.