When Brendon’s mother-in-law, Susan, sees the Christmas present pile under the tree, she immediately wants to take away her granddaughter’s gift. And for what? To teach the little girl a lesson: that you cannot always get what you want. Not to be outdone, Brendon teaches Susan a Christmas lesson that she’ll never forget.
It was the first Christmas I could finally afford to splurge a little. I’d landed a new job earlier that year, one with a salary that made it possible to loosen up and enjoy the holidays.
Most of my money went toward gifts for my nine-year-old daughter, Eve. She had been doing so well in school, helping out around the house without us even asking, and being all-around amazing.
A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney
If anyone deserved to be spoiled, it was her.
But apparently, my mother-in-law, Susan, had other thoughts.
The trouble started when she dropped by one morning, bringing a batch of freshly baked muffins with her. She noticed the Christmas tree practically buried under a pile of wrapped presents. Immediately, her face changed.
Muffins on a table | Source: Midjourney
“Wow,” Susan said, crossing her arms as she scanned the room. “Looks like Santa went a little overboard this year, huh?”
I gave her a polite smile, still riding the holiday high.
“I figured it was a good year to do something special. Everyone’s got a little something under the tree… including you,” I laughed.
Her eyebrows lifted.
Christmas presents under a tree | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, and what about Evie?” she asked. “How many presents does my granddaughter get?”
What the hell? I thought.
But I knew that tone too well. I kept my response light, hoping to dodge the fight I felt brewing.
“About three big ones and a few smaller boxes,” I said politely.
Susan’s expression shifted from curiosity to indignation so fast it gave me whiplash. She shook her head slowly, her lips pursing like I’d just confessed to some unthinkable crime.
A frowning older woman | Source: Midjourney
“That’s way too much for a nine-year-old, Brendon,” she snapped. “She doesn’t need all of that.”
I blinked, caught off guard.
“It’s Christmas, Susan,” I said. “It’s the one day we can go all out. She’s earned it; she’s been working hard all year.”
Susan waved me off, not even pretending to listen to my words.
A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney
“No child needs that many gifts,” she said. “I’ll be taking back the doll I bought her. She has to learn that life won’t always give her everything she asks for.”
I stared at the woman standing in front of me. I was in utter disbelief.
“You promised her that doll, Susan! She’s been excited about it for weeks.”
“That’s exactly why she needs to learn a lesson,” Susan said with a smug smile. “Better she learn it now than later.”
A doll in a box | Source: Midjourney
I bit my tongue, trying to stay civil.
Before I knew it, Eve came running down the stairs.
“Good morning, Gran!” she said, rushing to hug the old woman.
“Hello, darling,” Susan said, giving me a smug look. “Gran’s leaving now, but I’ll see you soon!”
A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney
I understood the lesson she was trying to teach, really, I did. But this was Christmas! And Eve was nine.
It wasn’t about deprivation, it was about joy. Our daughter wasn’t some spoiled brat, and I saw no reason to punish her on the one day meant for celebration.
As for Melanie, my wife?
She told me to let it go.
“My mother’s gift is hers to decide what to do with,” she said with a shrug later that night as she made grilled fish for dinner. “It’s just a doll, anyway. Will Evie really miss it?”
A tray of grilled fish | Source: Midjourney
I knew my wife had grown up with her mother’s toxic behavior and probably didn’t want to stir the pot, but it was still too much for me.
Our daughter was counting on that gift, and Susan was taking it away just to prove a point.
That’s when I decided—if Susan was going to play petty games, I could play them better.
See, one of the things I’d bought that year was a designer bag for Susan. It was the one thing she had been talking about for months.
A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney
“I was with Cora from the club,” she said. “And we were walking around the mall, and I saw it in the store window. It’s so chic and beautiful. I have to get it!”
She hinted at it every chance she got, practically salivating over it.
And I bought it for her.
My goodness, it was expensive, $600, to be exact. I figured it would score me some brownie points, and honestly, as problematic as she was, I did like the idea of making her happy.
A designer handbag on a table | Source: Midjourney
But now?
Now I had other plans.
I took the fancy bag out of its box and carefully folded a cheap $40 robe inside. It was a plain thing, just boring gray with no patterns. To be honest, it was the kind of gift you’d pick up in a rush from the clearance bin at the last minute.
I wrapped the box back up with care, making sure the packaging looked pristine.
A gold box with a ribbon | Source: Midjourney
“You’re putting way too much effort into this, honey,” Melanie laughed.
“She needs to be taught a lesson, Mel,” I said. “Your mother messed with the wrong man.”
Christmas morning came, and the living room buzzed with excitement as everyone opened their presents. My daughter tore through her gifts, laughter bubbling as she saw all her presents.
Melanie smiled as she unwrapped the cozy scarf and pair of shoes I’d picked for her.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
And then came Susan’s turn.
Her eyes lit up the moment she saw the designer bag’s signature gold box. She clasped her hands together, beaming as she tore off the wrapping paper.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have!” she said, her voice high with excitement.
I leaned back, watching with the tiniest smile. She pulled the lid off the box, and her smile faltered.
A gray robe in a box | Source: Midjourney
Gone was the giddy excitement. Instead, in its place was pure confusion.
Then shock.
And finally, disappointment.
Susan pulled the robe from the box, holding it up with trembling hands.
“What… What is this? Melanie? Brendon?” she asked.
I gave her my most innocent smile.
“It’s a robe,” I said. “I thought you’d like it. It’s practical, isn’t it?”
Her mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. She looked between the robe and the expensive-looking box, her face turning pale.
“Is this really my gift?” she asked quietly.
I nodded, trying not to laugh.
An upset old woman | Source: Midjourney
“Sorry if it’s not what you were hoping for. But you taught me a lesson the other day, Susan. You told me that people don’t always get the gifts they want. It’s a good lesson, don’t you think?”
Susan’s jaw tightened, and I swear I saw her eye twitch. My wife shot me a look that could melt steel. But I didn’t care.
I’d made my point. And my daughter was happy.
A close up of a man | Source: Midjourney
“Come on,” Melanie said, calling everyone to the table. “The Christmas feast is ready to go!”
Later that afternoon, after we were all stuffed from the meal, Susan pulled me aside.
“You bought the bag, didn’t you?” she asked, her voice low and desperate.
I raised an eyebrow.
A Christmas feast | Source: Midjourney
“What makes you say that?” I asked.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Brendon,” she hissed. “I know you bought it. Where is it?”
I crossed my arms and gave her a casual shrug.
“Sold it,” I said. “If you wouldn’t spoil my daughter, why would I spoil you?”
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
A gift bag on a table | Source: Midjourney
“You’re lying. You didn’t sell it,” she said.
“Susan, believe what you want,” I said. “But you made it clear, sometimes people don’t get the things they ask for. Seems only fair, don’t you think?”
Susan’s face twisted again, and for a moment, I thought she might explode. Instead, she let out a sharp breath, clearly trying to contain herself.
“I’ve been nothing but generous to you,” she whispered angrily.
A frowning old woman | Source: Midjourney
“Really? Because taking back a promised gift from your granddaughter doesn’t feel very generous to me.”
She had no comeback for that. She just stood there, lips pressed into a thin line, her anger simmering beneath the surface.
To say Susan was furious for the rest of the day would be an understatement. My wife gave me the cold shoulder too, but frankly, I didn’t care.
A close up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
“You hurt my mother, Brendon,” she said. “You embarrassed her and you hurt her.”
“So what?” I asked. “She hurt me by pulling that stunt, Mel. Think about it, she took away something that Eve really wanted. And she had gotten it before I landed my new job. What would have happened if I couldn’t get Evie any Christmas presents? That doll would have saved the day.”
“I don’t understand why you’re so hung up on it,” Mel said. “Eve didn’t even see the doll, it’s a different case if Mom took it straight from her hands.”
An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney
“You just don’t get it, do you?” I asked.
“I don’t. I really don’t,” she said.
Look, even now, things are big tense with Melanie and Susan. But it’s not a big deal for me. The important part is that my daughter had a Christmas she would never forget. And I’d shown Susan that her behavior just isn’t acceptable.
An annoyed man | Source: Midjourney
By the end of the night, Susan left without so much as a goodbye. The robe sat abandoned on the couch.
Some people will tell you that Christmas is about forgiveness. About turning the other cheek and spreading joy. But sometimes, Christmas is about making sure people learn their lessons.
Even if it means playing a little dirty.
A robe and box on a couch | Source: Midjourney
My mother-in-law didn’t deserve the $600 bag, not with the way she treated my daughter. And if she thinks she can keep pulling her little power plays in my house… well, she’s got another thing coming.
Merry Christmas, Susan.
What would you have done?
A smiling little girl | Source: Midjourney
If you’ve enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you:
My Kids’ Grandmom Came to Our Home, Packed the Christmas Presents She Gave Them & Took Them Away
When Rebecca’s mother-in-law, Darlene, goes home to take away her grandchildren’s Christmas presents, she’s left absolutely speechless. Later, she and her husband, Mark, learn that Darlene did this because she wanted to teach the couple a lesson… but karma intervenes, making sure that the old woman feels the same way the kids felt.
I never thought that this would be a story I’d tell. I mean, toxic in-laws are practically their own genre, but what my mother-in-law, Darlene, did this Christmas left me completely speechless.
Honestly, I’m still in shock.
A woman looking to the side | Source: Midjourney
I’m Rebecca, a mom of three chaotic kids. There’s Caleb (7), Sadie (5), and little Mason (3). Christmas is a huge deal in our house and has been like this since I was a child. We go all out.
The tree, the decorations, and of course, the gifts. Usually, Darlene shows up with her arms full of presents for the kids, playing the part of the doting grandma for one day a year.
This time, though, Darlene really outdid herself. Caleb got the new LEGO set that he had been begging for, and Sadie’s eyes lit up over a princess castle playset. Mason, the little speed demon of the family, zoomed through the living room on an adorable ride-on toy.
A castle made out of LEGO blocks | Source: Midjourney
She even threw in stylish clothes for all three kids.
“They need to be photo-ready, Becca,” she told me. “And this way, they all match!”
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
What You See First Unveils the Secrets of Your Character
It would seem logical that we’d be the ones to know ourselves the best. Yet, life has a peculiar way of springing surprises on us. Every now and then, we stumble upon unknown aspects of our character, taking us by complete surprise. Now, we’ve prepared a fun, visual test for you. Who knows? You might just uncover new facets of yourself that were hidden until now. Enjoy this journey of self-discovery!
What did you see first?
1.
- Frog: You are very honest and straightforward while communicating with other people. You are self-assured and expect everyone else to treat you in the same manner.
- Horse: You aren’t known for your impulsiveness, but on the contrary, you over-analyze everything. That’s because you prefer to see things for yourself and not let others guide you.
2.
- The lock: You love to explore what you don’t know, learn new things, and get out of your comfort zone. You may be interested in someone, so be sure to talk to that person.
- The crying figure: You need to pay more attention to your feelings and listen to your wishes. At the same time, you need time to relax and clear your mind.
3.
- The face: You are a social person and curious about the lives of others. For you, everything is unique and interesting. You pay attention to what is, instead of the details.
- The fish: You are happy with your life. You believe in luck and a happy future. For you, the glass is always half full and details are very important to you.
4.
- An open door: You are ready for changes and are going in the right direction. You face the future without fear but rather, excitement. You are a source of inspiration for others.
- The musical note: Expressing yourself is important to you. You feel you have something important to share with the world. Don’t look back and take risks.
5.
- A car: The world is full of mysteries to you. It is also made of many different things that always stimulate your imagination.
- A person with binoculars: You are nice to others, and are not critical of them or yourself.
- The letter “A”: Your mood swings are real, but not extreme. You can go from happy to sad. Remember to balance life and work.
6.
- A crocodile: Your life is full of many colors and you have a creative approach to everything.
- Mountains and water: You are neither very conventional nor very individualistic. You are usually optimistic and tend to be constructive.
- People on a boat: You are sociable and get along well with others. You are adventurous and adapt easily to social situations.
7.
- Rabbit: You are more of a technical person than a caring one because the left hemisphere of your brain is dominant.
- Duck: In this case, the right hemisphere of your brain dominates the left, so you are very “human” when it comes to your personality.
Our childhood greatly influences our character and behavior. Here are several parenting decisions people don’t realize can have a domino effect.
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