Well this takes the cake....I give up.

[ldymcbth]

Oh my gosh! She has some nerve! $25 is PLENTY. I would have a hard time not writing back a really snippy response to her!

 

[dakcp2001]

I wish it were a joke, unfortunately this is the family I am marrying into. Yippeeeee.

I work nights so I have been able to avoid any contact with them. I havent gotten any more emails from sil after that doozy and her follow up but MIL has been calling. She tends to call all the time anyway with no regard for the fact that I work nights and sleep days so I unplug the phone. She thinks I am lazy for sleeping all day, so thinks it is appropriate to wake me up.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I wish it were a joke, unfortunately this is the family I am marrying into. Yippeeeee.

I work nights so I have been able to avoid any contact with them. I havent gotten any more emails from sil after that doozy and her follow up but MIL has been calling. She tends to call all the time anyway with no regard for the fact that I work nights and sleep days so I unplug the phone. She thinks I am lazy for sleeping all day, so thinks it is appropriate to wake me up.

You need to get your future husband to step up and put an end to this. It will only get worse if he doesn't. And, if he will not, you need to know now so you can decide what to do for yourself. No way would I let my family mistreat my wife or suggest that she is lazy.

 

[Jeninindy]

Wow, how rude of her! My kids are 10 and 12 and they would be able to find plenty for $25, more importantly though, they would appreciate the gift!!!

It's just plain sad what she did. I am sorry OP!

 

[Ceila]

You need to get your future husband to step up and put an end to this. It will only get worse if he doesn't. And, if he will not, you need to know now so you can decide what to do for yourself. No way would I let my family mistreat my wife or suggest that she is lazy.

I have to agree with this post completely. When we were engaged, my husband stood up to his mother on an issue regarding me that was far less major than what the OP is going through.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, this is what I am starting to think. My late DMIL had a strong personality. I was fortunate insofar as DH always stood with me...he did have to say once "Mom don't make me choose between you and Disney Doll because you will lose". Now, don't get me wrong, I would have really tried my damndest to never let a wedge form between us & DH's parents, but then again, DH's parents weren't toxic people...if they got a little "overexuberant" with things sometimes, it was coming from a place of love or concern, not nastiness and manipulation.

As far as crazy SisIL, I was able to hold her at bay for the most part. It got easier after DMIL passed away because SisIL had no one protecting her then....Crazy SisIL also didn't have a drug problem or anger problems or anything...she was just nuts. Being a nurse, I was fairly capable of handling her...I had had lots of experience....

 

[ChisJo]

Ridiculous....if any SIL said that to me, well, my response would be too strong to say on these boards what I would reply. Anything that you gave to those kids would've and should've been more than appreciated!

 

[laurie31]

I wish it were a joke, unfortunately this is the family I am marrying into. Yippeeeee.

I work nights so I have been able to avoid any contact with them. I havent gotten any more emails from sil after that doozy and her follow up but MIL has been calling. She tends to call all the time anyway with no regard for the fact that I work nights and sleep days so I unplug the phone. She thinks I am lazy for sleeping all day, so thinks it is appropriate to wake me up.

You need to call her on your break, just to chat.



If you're like me, you wouldn't have the nerve to actually go through with it, but I dream about calling people with attitudes like hers around 2am. "What? You were sleeping? Really?" Then call back around 4. "You're STILL not up? Seriously?"

I read this thread a few days ago, and was so shocked I couldn't think of a printable reply. $20-$25 is PLENTY for a niece/nephew gift in our family, and my kids (age 12 and 14) are very happy with gift cards for that amount. Most of their Aunts and Uncles spend about $20 on them. And as others have said, there are TONS of things for that price or much less that a child that age would like.

Her "thank you note thinly veiled as sarcasm" was very witchy, at the least. I initially thought you were going to say you couldn't afford anything for the children. $25 is more than generous, even if you aren't going through hard times.


You have my sympathy. I don't think she'd be happy with ANY gift. It will always be the wrong color/size/brand or simply not good enough. Don't bother trying to please her. Next year, give the children homemade gift certificates good for "a day out with their favorite aunt and uncle" and take them to the park or spend the day baking cookies, or even take them to Chuck E Cheese if you can stomach it. Kids spell love t-i-m-e. They don't know or care what things cost (unless someone points it out ) and most kids would love being the center of your attention for an afternoon. You could have a great day in the park with a picnic lunch for a very cheap price, and the kids would think it was the best thing ever.

 

[mickeysgal]

I haven't read through the pages and pages of comments but are you kidding me? I don't care if $25 was enough to buy a toy or not. It's plenty. And abouve all, it is the thought, it is the thought, it is the thought that counts. Why in the world don't people get this? How tacky!

 

[wilderness01]

She is rude on so many levels. I agree, your DF needs to step in and set her straight.

 

[agnes!]

Hey has anyone mentioned that SIL could be ticked that it wasn't more or to a different place so she could turn it in or combine them for the CASH for herself?

OP - Ignore her, you'll have the satisfaction of driving her NUTS. And I can't remember how she's related to you (your DF's sister or his brother's wife), but I think he should deal with the little witch from now on.


agnes!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

She is rude on so many levels. I agree, your DF needs to step in and set her straight.

THIS!

I would absolutely insist on it. You shouldn't have to deal with this at all, he should. Period. And honestly, my DH wouldn't give me the chance to deal with her, he would have done it already!

 

[hucifer]

You need to get your future husband to step up and put an end to this. It will only get worse if he doesn't.

I completely agree.

You need to call her on your break, just to chat.

This made me

 

[Holly]

Little background, DF was laid off in April right as I finished school. We relocated here for a job for me, and he recently started working. So we basically had no income for 6 months and had to live off savings and then credit cards and we are now paying both rent and a mortgage. Financially we are not in a great place right now but we are getting by, which we are greatful for. Darling SIL sent me an email today regarding the gifts we sent for Christmas to her kids. I just want to pull my hair out. We sent each child a $25 gift card to Toys R Us so they could choose their own toy. This sis complains each year no matter what we get her kids, but here is a bit of the email I got from her this am. I am really hurt & offended. Is $25 not enough? I dont even know how to respond, I dont think I am going to. What is the going rate for a gift card for a child that is under 8?

Quote from the email:

I wanted to thank you for the gift cards, but just wanted to let you know since you do not have any children you must be unaware that $25 is really not enough for a toy. Thank you for thinking of us, it really is the though that counts. They will be able to save them and put them toward something, we will cover the rest. Merry Christmas.

That is rotten. Rotten.

I'm not sure how I would deal with that in a nice way. I'm sorry

 

[tarheel618]

Well you guys are correct, it is driving her nuts that I have not responded. I got a follow up email from her saying "she hopes I wasnt offended" and also an email from other SIL asking "what is the deal with you and other sis" so it is driving them nuts. I havent called or emailed either one of them. I told df about the email he rolled his eyes, laughed, and apologized on behalf of his entire family. lol. He does have a good sense of humor.

Next year they are getting the loudest most annoying toys I can locate and I am sending them last minute. WITH batteries of course.

Not responding is the best source of revenge. Never let anyone is the family know you were hurt by this. It will drive her NUTS. When you see her be extremely nice and act like nothing is wrong. She meant it as a 'dig' to hurt you and now that she thinks it didn't she is baffled. Total Middle School Mean Girl, some people never grow out of this.


Of course, I personally would want to respond to her, "Oh, sorry I haven't had time to write back, I've been too busy making fun of you on a chat board."

 

[KDIPIAZZ]

Absolutely call her ... maybe not at 2 am, but 4 is certainly reasonable enough

When i was pregnant (long long ago), and working 2 jobs, I went to bed at 10 PM and had to be up again at 4 AM My FIL insisted on calling every night at 11 PM. Three episodes of " I've been so tired I couldn't remember what you called about when you woke me up last night. I was just checking to make sure there wasn't an emergency." at 4:15 AM and the problem was solved

You need to call her on your break, just to chat.



If you're like me, you wouldn't have the nerve to actually go through with it, but I dream about calling people with attitudes like hers around 2am. "What? You were sleeping? Really?" Then call back around 4. "You're STILL not up? Seriously?" .

 

[mlynn]

Wow this sounds like my SIL. I have21 NIeces adn Nephews. We only by for God children.So that is 6 for me. But I buy for 7 kids.(My bild and Sil have a foster child,the other 4 kids are my godchildren)so Ican't go tothere house with out a gift for the 5th child.
Well every year on the 26th I get calls on how the kdis don't like this or that.Last year I bought all gift cards(sIL told me what storest o get)well she called on the 26th to tell me 2 hated where I got them for.I siad you told me to go there deeal with it.this year there all getting cash.I should n't get a call on that. But I'm sure I will.

Good Luck OP!!! 25 is plenty!!! But I would have to say something to her.

 

[Inigo]

No response whatsoever - nothing will get her goat faster

In my experience with the Psycho-Wench that tries to pull these games to us, this is the best response. Psycho-Wench continues to do this to others because they respond. I would just look at her, laugh, and walk off.

She knows she can't get under my skin, and it ticks her off (she complains about me constantly) but she doesn't do or say anything to me anymore. Her half-sisters have realized in the last few years that they need to do the same thing to her so their lives have improved in regards to her.

(And my DH always picked his mother, his brother's step-daughter--said psycho-wench, and others in his family over me. I got used to it in time. I'm over getting used to it. I knew he wouldn't stand up for me, so I had to handle it myself. This will probably be the last year I'll be putting up with his choices in this.)

 

[MickeyBA]

I was reading through this last night and this morning I'm watching the Today show. The next thing up is a segment on Christmas gifts under $25. Made me laugh!

 

[mill4023]

MIL & other SIL still are not speaking to me, since I wouldnt let deadbeat baby SIL live in my home for free so she caould "save up" whil I pay the mortgage. The home is for sale and I know once deadbeat moves in Id never be able to get her out.

I am never going to be able to handle his family. I dont know how he turned out so normal, I have known him for over 10 years but still keep waiting for him to show his crazy. lol. He hasnt yet. How can he be normal with a family like this?

Some people are just born with the strength to survive and become normal adults, despite the best efforts of their psycho families.

I've been with DW for 20 years and she is a normal, wonderful, caring person and a great mother to our kids, even though she grew up with a raving lunatic of a mother and a spineless doormat of a father.