desperately need opinions.

[3andahalfmonkeys]

i have been with dh for 8 years. married for nearly 2 and have 3 dc ages 6,4 and 2. he also has a ds aged 10.
anyway when we first met my dm was not too impressed that he had been married before let alone that he had a dc. but they always bought him birthday/ Xmas presents etc. when they visited my df regularly bought him a treat - new car/books etc.
forward on to my pfb being born and things changed - not so much at first but now 6 years on there is a dramatic difference. they forgot his birthday in dec. then at Xmas they turned up with bags of stuff for my 3dc but a £10 voucher for dss.
(well actually dc3 didn't get loads either but he is a baby - it seemed to go in pfb order ie ds1 got loads, da2 hot slightly less and da3 less again)
anyway i would like advice as to how to handle this year.
thanks for reading

That doesn't sound nice for your dss. How close are your parents to him? Do they see him often/as often as your dc?

That's so sad.

I don't think there is any other way but to have a chat to your parents...

I know it will be tricky, but they really are out of line.

Please speak to them, it is hurtful. :(

Handle it carefully though - is it possible to suggest their lack of justness in a jokey/sure-you-didn't-mean-to kind of a way? That way it's less confrontational and gives them a chance to think about it without feeling affronted.

Is it also possible they know less about what to get a non-blood relative 10-yr old (who I assume also has other GPs etc?). How do your DP's parents treat your combined DCs?

I walked have a general talk about how important you think it is for step all children including half siblings and step children to be treated equally and how damaging you think it is when they doesn't happen. you could even make a friend this has happened to. Then sit back and see if they take the hint.

That's the way I would do it but then I'm a wimp about confrontation.

Slightly giberish but i'm sure you get my meaning!