Lovely DD was born last Tuesday. MIL very kindly came down on Wednesday to look after DS while DH and I chilled out for a bit with our new addition. She made a big fuss of DS which is great as it helps to stop him feeling put out but her reaction to DD has been odd and it's getting to me. She stayed for two days and then visited again with FIL yesterday. In that time she held DD only briefly (which is fine) but what struck me as very odd is that on both visits she came completely empty handed - no card, no present, nothing for DD.
This is very unusual for her because in the two years since DS was born she has never once arrived without something for him - a toy, a piece of clothing, something. She's the kind of person who gives Christmas cards even when she's staying for Christmas so to arrive with no card is also very unusual for her. When DS was born she was clearly over the moon - had knitted a blanket for him, bought him tonnes of clothes, bought him a baby gym etc etc and I can't help but feel sad and take it sort of personally that DD doesn't even warrant a card.
Since she found we were having a girl at the 20 week scan she's been a bit weird. She had two boys herself and commented a few times that she doesn't know how to deal with girls and that girls are different etc etc. She often asks silly questions like "Do all girls do that screaming thing?" (ie do all little girls scream shrilly when excited), and makes comments like "Oh a girl wouldn't enjoy that," (as in girls are boring I suppose). I get that she might see a girl as a slightly alien thing given she hasn't had one herself, but surely she should be able to get beyond that and just be glad she has another lovely healthy grandchild?
I'm hoping this is a blip and she'll start to be more "normal" about the whole thing soon. If her attitude continues I can see it causing real problems - I will not put up with my children being treated differently.
Anyone had experience of something like this?