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).

Could they just have been in a bag going back to hers?
Not necessarily stolen.

My family have bags going back and forth all the time off stuff we are borrowing or giving to each other.. Could just be genuine mix up of a bag.

Just ask nicely.. She might even say she thought you packed them up for her with other bits.

I would not jump to conclusions, maybe she liked yours, saw same in charity shop and bought them?

If you can buy news ones of them do that, steal yours back (if they’re defo yours) and put the new ones on her tree.

The issue with that is….. if the op talks to her MIL and she denys all knowledge and lies - then the @ExhaustedPigeon37 won’t be able to get them back. It’s a tug of war.
If she’s convinced they are hers and pinches them back - two wrongs don’t make a right but at least she will have them back.
We’ve had most of our decorations for many years and would be just as annoyed/upset if someone pinched any or damaged them.

Id steal them back.

This

She might then explain that DH or DC gave them to her last year when she was admiring them (and they’ve forgotten).

Or if she’s taken them, she might “buy” you replacements from this “miraculous” shop that sold them…

Or the messages could he ignored then you’re no wiser but if you took them back it would look suspicious

Any update @ExhaustedPigeon37 ? Have you been round / got them back yet? Got a plan?? Hope so! Xxx

I’m not joking OP, I would literally not beat about the bush and would say straight to MIL, “have you stolen my Christmas decorations? I’ve been looking everywhere for them and here they are on your tree!”

Then see what her reaction is. You could say it ingest or sarcastically you’re as a joke, but I don’t think there’s any beating about the bush needed. Ask her straight!

You could literally say you know they don’t sell them anymore anywhere and you’ve never seen them here and your ones have disappeared since last year. Say it with certainty and confidence.

Or, you could leave a little mark on them when no one’s looking on the back, like a pen mark or something inconspicuous. Then challenge her. When she denies it you could say that your ones had a mark on the back and can we check, lol. Fight fire with fire!

Or, as others have said steal them back lol!

Did you get your decorations back?

Unfortunately I’ve been unwell so we haven’t been able to get there this week, we are going to a Panto tomorrow so the first opportunity will be Boxing Day as we are now definitely going!

FFS, OP. I got excited then.

Yes, I need to get out more…

Sorry! I promise there will be an update on Boxing Day! When they are in my bag/car!

Same!

Sorry! I promised to update on Boxing Day! It will contain my MO too 😂

We shall hold you to that! :)

Festively swinging on your rear view mirror.

Shamelessly placemarking as I’ve been dying to know if you got them back!!!!

Today’s the day OP! Let us know when you’ve got your decorations back lol

Operation Decoration is in full swing, I’m just getting ready to take on the task of retrieving my rightful decorations back! Wish me luck MNetters! See you on the other side 😎😂

Good luck and God speed @ExhaustedPigeon37 !

Can you sneak a photo of your decorations on MIL's tree for us before you snaffle them back?

Will you say anything or will it a stealth mission? 😄

I’m sure I will be able to! Providing they are still there 🤞🏼🤞🏼 that will be my first objective, secure the items in sight!

Thank you

Ooh sorry, it will be a stealth mission! 😎

Go get them!! Good luck!! Xx

Totally invested, good luck!

Don’t forget to put a stitch in them once you’ve recovered them. Then, if confronted, you can say - nope, they’re definitely mine. Maybe stitch a small initial on the back 😬

Also invested.May the force be with you.