Posted by Lisa K on 0:10 Dec 24
My MIL clearly favors dd. She has not really tried to hide it. Stuff like calling me during the day to invite dd to a movie or to swim when ds is only 17 months older. Or buying outfits for dd and nothing for ds. Or offering to pay for summer camp at a coed camp for dd but not ds. When I call her on it (mostly I play dumb and say something like "Riley and Brittany would love to come over" or...you know..repeat back as if I thought she meant both). But so far, she has not included him on her own.
For Christmas, MIL is giving DD violin lessons and a violin (3/4) and $160 in AG stuff. I don't know if there is more. The lessons are worth at least $400 as she said she paid up through May. I don't know what to say the violin is worth. It is an old one of MIL's that she had fixed. Regardless, violins are worth a lot.
I have 3 ds's. The younger children won't notice, but, MIL has not told me what she got for DS. She did ask if there was a computer game she could get him. I said that he pretty much has most of what is available as far as I can tell. I suggested a computer for all the kids to share. I doubt she got the computer. I am afraid she found a $5 shirt and has wrapped it up for him. This would really hurt my sons feelings.
I know I should prepare my son for the possibility. I don't know that it will happen, but I know if he breaks out crying in front of my MIL, it will just give her more of a feeling of power and justification. It also might not even come to happen. Life is very stressful right now! For all I know, she may have gotten a computer (doubtful, but might have). However, recently she sent her computer to be fixed because it was not hooking to the internet right and it turned out she was not putting in the password. Her reply was "what password?" I somehow am doubting her ability to order a computer. But, it is possible.
So, is there anything else? Should dh say something if MIL gives dd so much and ds very little? It is not that she is obligated to give anything, but if she does, she should give equally to her grandchildren. I would rather she give dd a $10 item to match ds than ds have to watch DD get everything while he gets nothing.