Mother Exits Christmas Lunch In Disbelief Over "Thoughtless" Gift Exchange From Sister-In-Law

“All my kids got was a $20 Smiggle gift card after I spent $600 on her own kids.”

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• December 2, 2023

The holiday season often ushers in a sense of joy, togetherness, and the cherished tradition of gift-giving. Christmas, in particular, is a time when families come together to exchange tokens of love and appreciation.

However, as heartwarming as it can be, the act of giving during Christmas can trigger some unintended conflicts.

In this Reddit story, we delve into a family's Christmas experience filled with anticipation and, eventually, disappointment. The narrative revolves around our narrator's (OP's) interactions with her sister-in-law (SIL) regarding gift-giving for their respective children.

For months leading up to Christmas, the SIL's approach to gift-giving appears straightforward—her teenagers prefer cash over traditional presents. OP, eager to please and ensure her SIL's kids have a memorable holiday, agrees to chip in some cash.

In OP's words, "I get calls from MIL, SIL, and my partner making not-so-subtle hints that they think 'I am a Jew of the family,' and there better be a few 50s in there. I felt pressured by all and basically coerced into giving her kids $200 each (three kids) ."

Interestingly, OP's partner had made it clear that this gift-giving wasn't going to be one-sided, meaning SIL was expected to reciprocate by giving their own kids some meaningful gifts.

Fast forward to D-day for the exchange of gifts, SIL snatches the envelopes containing her kid's cash gifts ($600) without even uttering a "Thank you." But that's just the tip of the iceberg — OP was stunned to receive a $20 Smiggle gift card from SIL as a Christmas gift for her own kids — unbelievable!

At that moment, OP grabbed her kids and stormed out of the family gathering. And you best believe that her partner got an earful for convincing her that this was going to be a good idea.

Scroll down to find out how the story unfolds.

The story in detail

A bit of background

OP was shocked to receive a $20 Smiggle gift card for her kids after giving $600 to her SIL’s kids

Here’s how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

“They get $20 next year and you need to stand up to your partner.“

“It's not that you aren't thankful, it's about them pressuring you to spend obscene amounts of money on other people's children.”

A little more info

“Put your foot down for next year! Your partner should have been doing the gift giving, not you.”

“NTA…But why did you give her anything after the anti-semitic comment.“

“NTA…Your partner and his family are racist because of how they called you cheap. I am not sure if you know that.”

Commenters overwhelmingly supported OP, condemning her sister-in-law's family for their anti-Semitic remarks and the stark disparity in gift-giving.

It was strange that OP even allowed her partner's family to pressure her into giving them such an amount of money, especially after their rude remarks.

To balance the scales, some advised OP to mirror SIL's actions by giving her thoughtless gifts next Christmas. If she didn't see anything wrong about what she did, then maybe she should get a taste of her own medicine.

Jesse