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Original poster

Final Proof that my MIL hates me....

34 replies

TheGreatScootini · 08/12/2009 20:46

She has bought me for my 30th birthday... a huge Nativity Scene. (And I do mean huge.And slightly unnerving.The Mary figure is about a foot high and is wearing an extremely worried expression).

Im not sure you would buy a huge nativity scence for even the most committed christians' birthday.However given that it it common knowledge in family circles that I am an atheist I find this even more perplexing.

Do you think she actually dislikes me, or could she be making a last ditch attempt at converting me to catholicism?

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 08/12/2009 20:53

pmsl, where will you put it? i think she'll notice if you don't have it displayed

onepieceoflollipop · 08/12/2009 20:56

I assume she is a practising Catholic.

In your position I would be tempted to contact a friend who follows a different religion (Sikh or Muslim or whatever) Ask them to acquire on your behalf a very large religious symbol/picture or similar.

Give it to MIL for Christmas. If she is a bit take the opportunity to remind her that you are an atheist.

Original poster
TheGreatScootini · 09/12/2009 12:59

I am thinking of putting it on the front lawn.It came complete with stable...perhaps strung with some lights?
Do you think that would look too much?

OP posts:
Kitsilano · 09/12/2009 13:07

snorting with laughter!

cyteen · 09/12/2009 13:10

Maybe she's hoping you'll set it up alongside the house and ask her to move in

twooter · 09/12/2009 13:11

well, if it is because she hates you, at least she's imaginative with it. I have to respect your MIL for that!

lal123 · 09/12/2009 13:12

I'd definitely "decorate" it with some tasteful xmas lights, nad perhaps add a flashing santa/rudolf and put it in the front garden - stick a santa hat on Jesus to really add some christmas spirit

Original poster
TheGreatScootini · 09/12/2009 13:17

My friend has just been round and seen it and suggests trying to train the cat to appear as part of the nativity-a sort of moving part of the tableux-possibly dressed up as an extra sheep (although it has come with plenty of peripheral animals as well as the central figures-but a live addition might up the effect a notch?)

I know I should be grateful for any presents I get but this one is really inexplicable.

Plus Im so easy to buy for.Any make up item or acessories-anything with Robert Pattinson on it-itunes vouchers,books, Im happy.Piece of piss.
You are right Twooter.She must be playing a very complex game of passive aggressive dislike with me I think I surrender-she's got me before we even started

OP posts:
GoldenSnitch · 09/12/2009 13:32

I think some people just cannot imagine not believing.

My MIL seemed genuinely confused at the thought that I might not want to christen DS and send him to a CofE school.

I think she'd cope better if I believed in something else, but not believing leaves a space which needs to be filled.

Maybe she thought the nativity scene would fill a hole and you'd be converted?

MrsMattie · 09/12/2009 13:34

I am choking with laughter!

Geocentric · 09/12/2009 13:35

Definitely put it on the front lawn. Add a sprinkle of garden gnomes for good measure.

Fruitysunshine · 09/12/2009 13:37

I would have said."lovely, hhmm, what is it exactly?!"

Apart from that I have nothing useful to add!

PrammyMammy · 09/12/2009 13:50

Ooo do you know where she got it? I want a Nativity scene and can only find modern cartoony ones.
Sorry i don't have much to say, but i dont think it means she hates you, because she probably sees it as a nice symbol of christmas.

Hassled · 09/12/2009 14:01

The choices are:

She loves you so much she wants you to share her faith;
She is so indifferent towards you that she hasn't registered your lack of faith;
She nicked a load of nativity scenes from the local garden centre during a menopausal moment and has to off-load them somehow;
She hates you with a passion and is messing with your head.

Which is the least scary ?

Scarletti · 09/12/2009 14:06

Give her a life-size figurine of Richard Dawkins for Christmas for her garden

MaggieNollaig · 09/12/2009 14:08

lol Scarletti,,the God Delusion by Richard Dawkins for Christmas, with one of those creepy cards with the virgin mary looking sad and hungry and tired (!)

they always make me shudder

Jux · 09/12/2009 14:08

donate it to your local Catholic Church and then tell her that they're terribly grateful and will mention her int heir prayers.

MaggieNollaig · 09/12/2009 14:09

ps, the spanish nativity scene always includes a shitter.

el cagador.

you'll have to order one and slip it in there.

JustAnotherManicMummy · 09/12/2009 14:12

PMSL. I think we need to see photos though...

I would like to see the cat featured quite prominently please. And could you fix the wise men up with some more 21st C gifts - maybe iPod, copy of Schott's Miscellany and mobile phone?

I'd also like to see Mary feeding the baby Jesus. Possibly with a fruitshoot/Greggs sausage roll

Pineapplechunks · 09/12/2009 14:16

Wow, if its truly been done as a dig, out of dislike for you, its pretty damn good one.

Your MIL has guts and style. I'm impressed.

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/12/2009 14:16

PMSL at this - oh poor your but a foot high nativity scene.

I just spat my biscuit out in laughter at training the cat as part of a moving tableau.

Actually - you can create your own Twighlight interactive toy - get a copy of heat and but out the faces and stick on the figurines - Bella (Mary), Edward (Joseph), Angel Gabriel (Jacob), the shepherds (the wrewolf native americans), the three wise men (rosalie, jasper and Alice) - and throw the baby jesus away.

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/12/2009 14:18

Cut out the faces, not but.

PSML laughing at Hassled's 'menopausal moment'

JustAnotherManicMummy · 09/12/2009 14:45

What a brilliant idea GetOrfMoiLand.

You could be really creative with this. You could have Katie Price & Peter Andre as Mary and Joseph (how nice to see them reconciled for xmas!) to start...

GetOrfMoiLand · 09/12/2009 14:49

OOh yes Katie and Peter redux. Plus the rickety old stable would look sort of I'm a Celebrity-ish.

OR (excited) X Factor nativity - Joe (natch) as Joseph and Stacey as Virgin Mary, (or perhaps Jedward as the holy couple with Louis Walsh as the baby jesus), with all the rest of the contestants as the other bit players in the nativity.

NorbertDentressangle · 09/12/2009 14:50

Look on the positive side....

....at least you'll only have to have it on display and look at it for a couple of weeks a year.

It was a huge vile ornament you'd have to have it on your mantelpiece 52 weeks of the year!