“Your wealth should reflect in your gifts,” snapped the mother-in-law.
“You’re better off than Emily, so your presents should match,” she huffed.
“I really dont know what to get Mum,” sighed Thomas, slumping onto the sofa beside his wife.
Charlotte merely shrugged in response. Picking a gift for her mother-in-law was always tricky.
Things with Margaret Thompson had been strained nearly from the start.
Thomas understood his mothers stance early on, and after talking it over with Charlotte, they agreed to keep their distance.
No one owed anyone anything. The occasional phone call and family gatherings, if they felt like it, made up their entire interaction.
This year, Margaret had decided to celebrate her birthday and invited much of the familyincluding the young couple.
“Actually, Mum said shed be happy with anything,” Thomas suddenly remembered.
“She always says that, then turns her nose up,” Charlotte muttered, recalling past disappointments. “Your sister could give her a shoebox, and shed be thrilledbut not us!”
She remembered every critique Margaret had ever made about their gifts.
“Remember Mothers Day? That expensive skincare set we bought? What was her reaction? Tears and complaints that we thought her old and unattractive,” Charlotte sighed. “The only gifts she ever liked were gold or gadgetsthings she could price-check.”
“Maybe I should call and ask what she wants?” Thomas hesitated.
“Suit yourself,” Charlotte replied, shaking her head.
Opting for the easy way out, Thomas dialled his mothers number to ask what shed like.
“Darling, I dont need a thing. Just seeing you will be gift enough,” Margaret said sweetly.
“Mum, are you sure? You wont be upset?” Thomas pressed.
“Of course not! Id love any little token,” she laughed. Thomas took her at her word.
“Mum said we can give her whatever we like,” he told Charlotte.
Charlotte eyed him sceptically. She didnt trust her mother-in-laws words.
But since Thomas insisted on choosing the gift himself, she relented.
“How about a robot vacuum? Then she wont have to drag the hoover around,” Charlotte suggested after checking their budget.
They agreed, buying Margaret a £900 gift and heading to the party with calm assurance.
The birthday girl greeted her son and daughter-in-law with a bright smileuntil she spotted the vacuum box.
“Why?” she sighed irritably. “Thomas, just put that in the spare room.”
Charlotte stared, stunned by the reaction.
Soon after, Thomass sister, Emily, arrived with her husband. She threw her arms around Margaret, exclaiming, “Mum, this is for you!”
“Oh, thank you, darling! You read my mind!” Margaret gushed, hugging her tightly.
Curious, Charlotte wondered what lavish gift had pleased her mother-in-law so much.
To her astonishment, Emily had given Margaret a basic £20 toiletry set.
She exchanged a puzzled glance with Thomas, who looked equally baffled.
For hours, Thomas bit his tongue, but when Margaret kept praising Emilys gift, he snapped.
“Mum, can we talk?” he asked, pulling her aside.
“Whats wrong?” Margaret frowned.
“Everythings wrong! I asked you about a gift. Remember your answer?” he said sharply.
“I do”
“Then why this reaction? You keep raving about a cheap set while dismissing ours,” Thomas said bitterly. “Dont lie and say Im imagining things.”
Margaret stiffened. “I wont lie. You earn more than Emilyyour gifts should reflect that.”
“And what, ours is rubbish?” Thomas retorted. “Should we include receipts to prove we spent enough?”
“Oh, stop it,” Margaret snapped, trying to end the conversation. “What can I say? Emilys gift just pleased me more.”
“Because you dont know what ours cost?” Thomas said sarcastically. “It was £900!”
“That much?” Margaret feigned shock.
Then she recovered, sharp as ever.
“You want to know why I value Emilys gifts more? They give what they can afford. You just throw money at things thoughtlessly.”
Thomas gaped. “Are you serious?”
“Do I look like Im joking? With your income, you couldve booked me a spa weekend,” she said haughtily.
Thomas stared, stunned.
“Do you think money grows on trees for us?” he burst out.
His shout drew Charlotte and Emily, who froze in the doorway.
Emily quickly defended their mother. “Mum didnt want a robot vacuumshe wanted a humidifier. Hers broke last week. If you paid attention, youd know.”
“I asked her what she wanted!” Thomas growled. “This is ridiculous! No more gifts. We try to make you happy, and you criticise us. The vacuum isnt enough? Now its a humidifier? Sorry we failed to meet your standards!” He turned to Charlotte. “Lets go.”
Margaret collapsed in tears as Emily comforted her, and the couple left, faces tight with anger.
True to his word, Thomas stopped attending family events, avoiding the stress altogether.
The lesson? No giftor its pricecan buy genuine affection. Those who measure love in pounds will always find a way to undervalue it.
