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Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. The holiday season is about showing generosity and kindness to others and making sure that everyone enjoys a warm and cozy holiday. So when it comes to family gatherings, most of us think “the more the merrier!”
One woman, however, has decided that her home doesn’t have space for one more person, even if that person happens to be her daughter-in-law’s mother. Below, you’ll find the full story that this daughter-in-law recently shared on Reddit, as well as some of the replies that readers left her.
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Christmas should be a warm and cozy holiday surrounded by loved ones
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
But when this woman asked if her mom could join her in-laws’ celebration, her mother-in-law immediately refused
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Designer_Visit_879
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by showing generosity to others
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
As a child, I considered Christmas to be the most magical day of the year. My parents bent over backwards to make sure my brothers and I always had a joyful holiday, and I will forever remember each Christmas as an incredibly special occasion. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that Christmas can not only be a time full of love and joy; it can also, unfortunately, be a time of great pain and sorrow.
If you’ve lost a loved one, celebrating Christmas might not ever feel the same without them. And if you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head or to put food on the table for your children, the pressure of trying to make the holiday season feel magical might be exhausting.
So it’s important to not only think about buying presents for friends and family members and cooking an elaborate feast. We should also keep in mind how crucial it is to look after one another. To show some generosity during this time and spread some holiday cheer, many people choose to volunteer around Christmas time.
This might include donating presents to families in need, creating care packages for families or unhoused residents, serving food at a local soup kitchen, raising money for charity, singing Christmas carols in hospitals, donating toys to animal shelters or writing kind Christmas cards to elderly residents.
There’s absolutely no better way to bring some warmth into your heart than to help someone else. And if there are people in your life who are struggling during the holiday season, it’s important to do anything you can to show them support.
The holidays can be a difficult time for many people, so it’s important to show loved ones support
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
Mind.org notes that Christmas can be challenging for a variety of reasons, including losing loved ones or going through a recent divorce. So to help show support, they recommend first understanding that Christmas will mean something different to every person. Be sympathetic to the fact that they might be struggling, and make sure they know that they’re not alone.
Listen to what they have to say, and accept their feelings. It can also be a good idea to ask them what might help. Maybe they want to play board games or bake cookies and watch cheesy Christmas films. Whatever they’re in the mood for, make sure they don’t have to do it alone.
Before buying a present, make sure that you consider exactly how it will be received. For example, food and alcohol-related presents aren’t always going to be appropriate. But gifting a loved one an outing that they’ll enjoy that you can experience together might be a great idea if they need friends and family to be around.
If it feels like this person is putting a damper on Christmas or being a downer, remember that they’re not doing so intentionally. Everyone wants to have a magical holiday season, but sometimes life circumstances get in the way. Make sure that you’re taking care of yourself as well, so you can be in a good place to provide them support.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. How would you have responded if you were in this woman’s shoes? Feel free to weigh in. And then, you can find another Bored Panda article featuring similar family drama right here!
The majority of readers agreed with the woman and called out her mother-in-law for being so unwelcoming
However, some thought that the mom would be intruding if she attended the Christmas celebration
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What do you think ?
Skogsrået 3 hours ago
So much for Christmas spirit, i bet MIL thinks she's a good christian too. I don't understand how some people can celebrate Christmas all while being selfish heartless douchebags at the same time.
Janelle Collard 1 hour ago
It's usually the AH's who think they're "good" christians.
Load More Replies...
Melissa Harris 3 hours ago (edited)
I personally hate when people extend my invitation to them to others without my consent. Knowing that her mother was feeling lonely she should have arranged for her to come over for Christmas and just went over to the in-laws for a few hours after her mom had left. If MIL wanted them to stay longer she'd have to extend her invitation to the OPs mom then (It's impolite to leave out a visiting house guest). think the MIL just doesn't like the OPs mother for some reason. It would be charitable and kind of the OPs MIL to have her mother over for Christmas but as another pointed out being divorced doesn't make you a tragic victim. Thr OP should definitely be supportive of her mom but shouldn't automatically expect to be able to bring her along to other people's events like carry-on luggage. Balancing different family obligations is a part and parcel of being married.
CP 1 hour ago (edited)
Based on the story you just read, your entire premise is wrong. The mom asked to join what would have most likely been a party the mom knew about. This happens all the time in the world I live in and their is nothing wrong with it. The DIL then asked if their mother could come. No where was an invitation extended. But let's grant you your incorrect premise. This is family not just another person. Whether or not some one is a "tragic victim" is irrelevant to opening your house on Christmas to your in laws. Someone who is alone and extended family should be enough for a normal human being. Unless OP is holding back there is nothing their mom did to the husband's mom. If there was some incident I would agree. I get that some people don't like other people for seemingly no reason, but you have to do the right thing in this situation. The host of the party was given a chance to do the right thing and refused. If it were me, husband or wife, I would not go to the Christmas party.
Load More Replies... CP 1 hour ago
To all the people saying it is rude to invite a person without asking first need to reread the entire story slowly. No one was invited without asking! No where in the story does it suggest that even happened. The whole point of the story was asking for the invite. This story would have been about the Mother showing up to the Christmas party uninvited if that had happened. How did people miss the entire point of the story?
Skogsrået 3 hours ago
So much for Christmas spirit, i bet MIL thinks she's a good christian too. I don't understand how some people can celebrate Christmas all while being selfish heartless douchebags at the same time.
Janelle Collard 1 hour ago
It's usually the AH's who think they're "good" christians.
Load More Replies... Melissa Harris 3 hours ago (edited)
I personally hate when people extend my invitation to them to others without my consent. Knowing that her mother was feeling lonely she should have arranged for her to come over for Christmas and just went over to the in-laws for a few hours after her mom had left. If MIL wanted them to stay longer she'd have to extend her invitation to the OPs mom then (It's impolite to leave out a visiting house guest). think the MIL just doesn't like the OPs mother for some reason. It would be charitable and kind of the OPs MIL to have her mother over for Christmas but as another pointed out being divorced doesn't make you a tragic victim. Thr OP should definitely be supportive of her mom but shouldn't automatically expect to be able to bring her along to other people's events like carry-on luggage. Balancing different family obligations is a part and parcel of being married.
CP 1 hour ago (edited)
Based on the story you just read, your entire premise is wrong. The mom asked to join what would have most likely been a party the mom knew about. This happens all the time in the world I live in and their is nothing wrong with it. The DIL then asked if their mother could come. No where was an invitation extended. But let's grant you your incorrect premise. This is family not just another person. Whether or not some one is a "tragic victim" is irrelevant to opening your house on Christmas to your in laws. Someone who is alone and extended family should be enough for a normal human being. Unless OP is holding back there is nothing their mom did to the husband's mom. If there was some incident I would agree. I get that some people don't like other people for seemingly no reason, but you have to do the right thing in this situation. The host of the party was given a chance to do the right thing and refused. If it were me, husband or wife, I would not go to the Christmas party.
Load More Replies... CP 1 hour ago
To all the people saying it is rude to invite a person without asking first need to reread the entire story slowly. No one was invited without asking! No where in the story does it suggest that even happened. The whole point of the story was asking for the invite. This story would have been about the Mother showing up to the Christmas party uninvited if that had happened. How did people miss the entire point of the story?
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