This Woman Was Treated Horribly By Her In-Laws On Their First Christmas Together, Gets Perfect Revenge A Year Later
In an ideal world, the holidays would be about spending time with the ones you love, being thankful for being together, and giving gifts just to show appreciation for one another… but we all know someone who turns the special day into one big ceremony.
Someone on r/MaliciousCompliance posted this story of how hard she tried to please her ex-husband’s parents. Seeing how far they went with their Christmas decorations, she was determined to impress the in-laws with gift-wrapping skills that would meet their standards… except they weren’t even happy with how she did that. To make things worse, her then-husband wasn’t impressed either and said she should just let him deal with it. Unfortunately for him, he ended up regretting it when she took him up on that the following year.
Image credits: Laura LaRose (not the actual photo)
Someone shared this Christmas horror story
Image credits: seriouslampshade
Why are we not surprised that someone from such a “traditional” family expected his wife to take care of all the planning and gift-wrapping, too?
Even though Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it’s no secret that stress goes way up in December, and people who handle the holidays this way certainly don’t help. Being stuck in a confined space with one’s family is cited as one of the main reasons why the holidays drive people crazy, but high expectations also make the list—if you’re expecting a perfect day where the decorations are all hanging the right way and everything goes according to the rules, the pressure could make your holiday gathering a nightmare for anyone who shows up.
Financial stress is another big factor, as evidenced by this survey in the US that revealed that it makes as many as 45% wish they could skip Christmas altogether. We can imagine that rising pressure to spend more on decorations, like this person experienced when she felt like she had to live up to her in-laws’ decorating standards, doesn’t help.
To all of our readers who are celebrating Christmas, we hope you’re able to spend your day making warm memories with the people you care about. The intentions in your gifts will always be more important than the kind of wrapping paper or ribbons on them!
Commenters agreed that this kind of snobbery has no place in Christmas
"I don't have a funny story about the third Christmas, because our marriage didn't last that long." Huuuuurray, this story has a happy ending! Unappreciative, unhelpful, lazy, unapologetic people who don't value your efforts are so not worth it.
No wonder the marriage didn't last, he seems to be a d1ck.
Load More Replies...
I would have dumped him on the first christmas. You don't talk like that about the people you love.
My thought exactly. He didn't respect his wife. Talked about her like that is just plain wrong and stupid. If he was my husband, he's be walking to the nearest hotel. Without respect, there's no marriage.
Load More Replies...
For my husband any my "First Christmas" we went to my in-law's home to celebrate. We bought everyone nice gifts and I wrapped them all nicely. The horror show was the gifts showered on my husband's younger brother and sister. He received a top of the line mechanic's tool cart complete with tools the sister received designer clothes for herself and her husband , a "toy store" for their 2 year old and gifts for their baby on the way. My husband received a sweat shirt, sweat pants, underwear, socks and a cheesy fiber-fill vest. I received a stocking with some thrift-shop candy and a novelty t-shirt from Disney World. The in-law's explanation for their unbalanced largesse? My husband was working and the sister and brother were unemployed so they deserved more to make them happy. These were the family dynamics in their household. I loved my husband until the day he died, 5 years later, and never went to Christmas with his family again.
Sorry about your husband, and will love to say he didn't need any presents, he already had the greatest gift: you.
Load More Replies...
Possibly. A lot of people put their best foot forward until the wedding ceremony is over. I guess it never enters their heads that their spouse can and will divorce them for behaving like a jerk.
Load More Replies...
I'm just hoping those kids she mentioned weren't with him. Otherwise she's attached at the hip with him and his horrid family for at least 18 years....
My wife and I had jobs where it was hard to get away.....especially on holidays (we worked at a resort). Our 2nd year of marriage we managed it. We got to my mother's house two days before Christmas....by the 2nd day my Mother was so rude to my wife I cautioned her that we'd leave if she did it again....She did it again and at noon on Christmas Eve we left without telling anyone (taking the presents for us and the ones we brought). We stayed at a beautiful hotel in the city and had a great Christmas. I'm 72 and that was when I was 32. My three brothers took her side and I have not spoken to any of those a**holes since....Screw 'em.
I'm glad you are out of that relationship. I too had a similar situation with the controlling in-laws plus the husband who was never supportive. Nasty in-laws and a husband always being defensive and not standing up for his wife in those situations, those are such huge indicators of really unhealthy relationships! Congratulations on making a healthy, beautiful life for yourself and your children!
I had a narcissistic, emotionally abusive boyfriend in my early 20s. Reading this story I was cringing for the poor woman the whole way through (until the ending, anyway). It may be hard for people who have never been in that kind of family or relationship to understand why she didn't just get up and walk out after the snarky comment about the ribbon, but when you're in the thrall of a person like that, it can take a very long time to see the abuse. You try so hard to fit in, to please, to make their family like you, to be perfect and wonderful, and you can't possibly because of the kind of people they are. Nothing you do will ever be good enough for them. I'm glad she saw the light and got out of that marriage, and I'm super grateful I finally woke up and got out of my relationship, but that kind of c**p leaves you with emotional scars that can last for life. I hope she's doing okay now.
I don't understand people who "overhear" and say nothing. I would have burst in and said, "You people are creeps."
Me and my fiance had second christmas together this year, at my parent's (as he doesn't have any so mine are only choice). He's helpful and kind and nice so my parents really like him, we get gifts together but i'm more creative with it so i'm in charge (but my own will so its ok) And my parents and sis get him lovely gifts too. When a family is kind, it's child will be kind too, but when it's s****y as the family in the story, it's member - potential partner will be s**t too, keep away from mean families
It's great she didn't stay with such lazy and lying person and his awful family. And now she's way happier! I'm happy for her and i wish all of you Pandas great families and friends! <3
Dude grow some balls and confront the family. I never let anyone talk smack about me or anyone that's not true. I defended my future (ex) husband to his mom when she was beating him down about something untrue and he was biting his tongue. It's gutsy and a lot more respectful. He was proud of me and thankful I spoke up because he didn't want to "rock the boat". As were both parents happy when they realized they didn't get the facts correct from the other "source"
You have to wonder why she married the guy in the first place. Even without the family from Hell, he doesn't sound like much of a catch.
I'm sure you have made all the right decisions in life.
Load More Replies...
Our christmas day goes something like this: First person who gets up makes a racket until everyone is up. We bundle into the main bedroom and empty our christmas stockings. There is no order just plenty of giggling. We fill our stockings with funny little things and treats like chocolate coins, mini torch keyrings, unicorn poo and , of course, the obligatory satsuma in the toe. I then go down stairs, tuern on the christmas lights and make us all a cuppa each and call out "READY!" and we pass out the presents we wrapped to the ones we wrapped them for. We opted to open them one at a time so we can all enjoy the fun of giving a gift to each other. We do the 'Main Present' thing where we buy each other a big main present from the rest of us (Me and our daughter got mom a switch) and then its all love and cuddles before trying out our new stuff and then we all clean up as a family (It tends to get silly with games like wrapping paper basket ball) then we team up in the kitchen. Great Day!
This is the way it should be. Your family is awesome :)
Load More Replies...
Jesus what a nightmare. I think they just wanted to judge her no matter what she did. Husband sounded like a real loser not to stand up for his own wife! If i was her i would have walked out after hearing them s**t talk me and let them have it!
This should be made into a "children's" Christmas book. Complete with pictures to be read around the tree every christmas.
Who told you about my in-laws?? We do not spend christmas with them any more (3 years now) because of that same s****y attitude. I Live in South Africa so please allow me me to say it in good Afrikaans. Hulle het 'n kak houding (They have s****y attitudes) Even though I would pent hundreds of rands on them for presents I would get a pair of f*****g white socks. Every year for 20 years now. I am so over this whole go big or go home theme for Christmas. DONE!
That family didn't deserve you! I bet since your Christmases have been filled with life, love, great eats and a lot of laughs. They're much to snoopity to relax and have fun!
Thank goodness you escaped that cesspool of uncouth bullies for good! Smart girl!
I am glad you got out of there it looked like they were a hot mess!!, Christmas is about family and all that good stuff gifts are great but not the main thing to focus on. In my family we just wrapped as we like me personally use gift bags or boxes and everyone is ok with it because they don’t care about it, just that we thought about what we think they would like or need
My family opens presents one by one, but we are allowed to talk, we do it because there are 7 people in my family and we don't want everyone going nuts, my dad pulls presents under the tree and gives it to the person it's for.
I can relate! I spent many Christmases in similar vein.I love crafting so often made the presents look lovely. Husband at the time never ever ever bothered with buying gifts for his own family, always up to me. I took lots of care to think what each person would like. I got to the house of the In-laws with all my presents, carefully wrapped and considerately placed under the tree. Everyone opened theirs. I waited. Out of probably 20 or so people I got - Nothing. Not one present. Not even my husband remembered me. Needless to say, we divorced over 20 years ago. Now people wonder why I don't 'do' Christmas!
uh where is the pic of you smearing feces in their face....or making them eat s**t pie?
I lived with someone just like that for ten years. His family is exactly like the one in this post. Nobody told me that he was not supporting me, I just accept that I was an idiot and didn't know how to handle myself socially. I still feel like that just because I'm distimic, agoraphobic and border. I'm happy that this woman leave this guy and that family. That wasn't the case for me, he left me for someone younger and socially fit. But is nice to know that someone else could get through this.
I'm sure it started as a fun tradition and soon became a ceremony. Although, it seems to have tripped over into ritual.
The funniest and most memorable Christmas for my kids were when one year, I had been working extra shifts, and already worked 12hr shifts as medical assistant for an asthma and allergy doctor. I thought I had enough wrapping paper for all the gifts. I did, except for one, for my oldest son. So, I did what every sarcastic, IDGAF, it's 2am single mom would do. I went thru the recycling bin for paper, and anything else that caught my eye and made me say, "yesssss!! Lol it was wrapped up in a modge podge of plastic wrappers off soda bottles, candy wrappers, etc. I hid it in my bedroom cuz I knew my boys would get a good laugh at it. They did! Had my camera ready. That was 10yrs ago, and still makes us smile and laugh about it.
She didn't marry traditional, she married money. If you're not from it, you shouldn't marry into bc nothing will ever be enough. Kind of a depressing story though. Not really BP uplift.
I have no issue with him letting his wife take care of the gifts. Especially if he's as inept as I can be. What I do have an issue with is anyone talking down on your wife and you going along with it. Douche nozzle. Sorry she had to go through that and glad she moved on.
He didn't "let" her, he just assumed she would do all the work while claiming to help.
Load More Replies...
Despite the problems with the family, I'm sorry it ended in divorce although apparently other people are jumping for joy it didn't work out, I'm surprised they didn't suggest coming up with a hashtag for all the pain you went through!!!!!!
....and all this because of some pretty paper and ribbons? Its called family petty politics.
Says the person who is spending his time on the internet judging strangers.
Load More Replies... 
SOme of us with monster-in-law types will laugh along, and cry along, with such posts, and feel less alone in the world. But, if you hate these posts, why are you here?
Load More Replies...
"I don't have a funny story about the third Christmas, because our marriage didn't last that long." Huuuuurray, this story has a happy ending! Unappreciative, unhelpful, lazy, unapologetic people who don't value your efforts are so not worth it.
No wonder the marriage didn't last, he seems to be a d1ck.
Load More Replies... I would have dumped him on the first christmas. You don't talk like that about the people you love.
My thought exactly. He didn't respect his wife. Talked about her like that is just plain wrong and stupid. If he was my husband, he's be walking to the nearest hotel. Without respect, there's no marriage.
Load More Replies... For my husband any my "First Christmas" we went to my in-law's home to celebrate. We bought everyone nice gifts and I wrapped them all nicely. The horror show was the gifts showered on my husband's younger brother and sister. He received a top of the line mechanic's tool cart complete with tools the sister received designer clothes for herself and her husband , a "toy store" for their 2 year old and gifts for their baby on the way. My husband received a sweat shirt, sweat pants, underwear, socks and a cheesy fiber-fill vest. I received a stocking with some thrift-shop candy and a novelty t-shirt from Disney World. The in-law's explanation for their unbalanced largesse? My husband was working and the sister and brother were unemployed so they deserved more to make them happy. These were the family dynamics in their household. I loved my husband until the day he died, 5 years later, and never went to Christmas with his family again.
Sorry about your husband, and will love to say he didn't need any presents, he already had the greatest gift: you.
Load More Replies... Possibly. A lot of people put their best foot forward until the wedding ceremony is over. I guess it never enters their heads that their spouse can and will divorce them for behaving like a jerk.
Load More Replies... I'm just hoping those kids she mentioned weren't with him. Otherwise she's attached at the hip with him and his horrid family for at least 18 years....
My wife and I had jobs where it was hard to get away.....especially on holidays (we worked at a resort). Our 2nd year of marriage we managed it. We got to my mother's house two days before Christmas....by the 2nd day my Mother was so rude to my wife I cautioned her that we'd leave if she did it again....She did it again and at noon on Christmas Eve we left without telling anyone (taking the presents for us and the ones we brought). We stayed at a beautiful hotel in the city and had a great Christmas. I'm 72 and that was when I was 32. My three brothers took her side and I have not spoken to any of those a**holes since....Screw 'em.
I'm glad you are out of that relationship. I too had a similar situation with the controlling in-laws plus the husband who was never supportive. Nasty in-laws and a husband always being defensive and not standing up for his wife in those situations, those are such huge indicators of really unhealthy relationships! Congratulations on making a healthy, beautiful life for yourself and your children!
I had a narcissistic, emotionally abusive boyfriend in my early 20s. Reading this story I was cringing for the poor woman the whole way through (until the ending, anyway). It may be hard for people who have never been in that kind of family or relationship to understand why she didn't just get up and walk out after the snarky comment about the ribbon, but when you're in the thrall of a person like that, it can take a very long time to see the abuse. You try so hard to fit in, to please, to make their family like you, to be perfect and wonderful, and you can't possibly because of the kind of people they are. Nothing you do will ever be good enough for them. I'm glad she saw the light and got out of that marriage, and I'm super grateful I finally woke up and got out of my relationship, but that kind of c**p leaves you with emotional scars that can last for life. I hope she's doing okay now.
I don't understand people who "overhear" and say nothing. I would have burst in and said, "You people are creeps."
Me and my fiance had second christmas together this year, at my parent's (as he doesn't have any so mine are only choice). He's helpful and kind and nice so my parents really like him, we get gifts together but i'm more creative with it so i'm in charge (but my own will so its ok) And my parents and sis get him lovely gifts too. When a family is kind, it's child will be kind too, but when it's s****y as the family in the story, it's member - potential partner will be s**t too, keep away from mean families
It's great she didn't stay with such lazy and lying person and his awful family. And now she's way happier! I'm happy for her and i wish all of you Pandas great families and friends! <3
Dude grow some balls and confront the family. I never let anyone talk smack about me or anyone that's not true. I defended my future (ex) husband to his mom when she was beating him down about something untrue and he was biting his tongue. It's gutsy and a lot more respectful. He was proud of me and thankful I spoke up because he didn't want to "rock the boat". As were both parents happy when they realized they didn't get the facts correct from the other "source"
You have to wonder why she married the guy in the first place. Even without the family from Hell, he doesn't sound like much of a catch.
I'm sure you have made all the right decisions in life.
Load More Replies... Our christmas day goes something like this: First person who gets up makes a racket until everyone is up. We bundle into the main bedroom and empty our christmas stockings. There is no order just plenty of giggling. We fill our stockings with funny little things and treats like chocolate coins, mini torch keyrings, unicorn poo and , of course, the obligatory satsuma in the toe. I then go down stairs, tuern on the christmas lights and make us all a cuppa each and call out "READY!" and we pass out the presents we wrapped to the ones we wrapped them for. We opted to open them one at a time so we can all enjoy the fun of giving a gift to each other. We do the 'Main Present' thing where we buy each other a big main present from the rest of us (Me and our daughter got mom a switch) and then its all love and cuddles before trying out our new stuff and then we all clean up as a family (It tends to get silly with games like wrapping paper basket ball) then we team up in the kitchen. Great Day!
This is the way it should be. Your family is awesome :)
Load More Replies... Jesus what a nightmare. I think they just wanted to judge her no matter what she did. Husband sounded like a real loser not to stand up for his own wife! If i was her i would have walked out after hearing them s**t talk me and let them have it!
This should be made into a "children's" Christmas book. Complete with pictures to be read around the tree every christmas.
Who told you about my in-laws?? We do not spend christmas with them any more (3 years now) because of that same s****y attitude. I Live in South Africa so please allow me me to say it in good Afrikaans. Hulle het 'n kak houding (They have s****y attitudes) Even though I would pent hundreds of rands on them for presents I would get a pair of f*****g white socks. Every year for 20 years now. I am so over this whole go big or go home theme for Christmas. DONE!
That family didn't deserve you! I bet since your Christmases have been filled with life, love, great eats and a lot of laughs. They're much to snoopity to relax and have fun!
Thank goodness you escaped that cesspool of uncouth bullies for good! Smart girl!
I am glad you got out of there it looked like they were a hot mess!!, Christmas is about family and all that good stuff gifts are great but not the main thing to focus on. In my family we just wrapped as we like me personally use gift bags or boxes and everyone is ok with it because they don’t care about it, just that we thought about what we think they would like or need
My family opens presents one by one, but we are allowed to talk, we do it because there are 7 people in my family and we don't want everyone going nuts, my dad pulls presents under the tree and gives it to the person it's for.
I can relate! I spent many Christmases in similar vein.I love crafting so often made the presents look lovely. Husband at the time never ever ever bothered with buying gifts for his own family, always up to me. I took lots of care to think what each person would like. I got to the house of the In-laws with all my presents, carefully wrapped and considerately placed under the tree. Everyone opened theirs. I waited. Out of probably 20 or so people I got - Nothing. Not one present. Not even my husband remembered me. Needless to say, we divorced over 20 years ago. Now people wonder why I don't 'do' Christmas!
uh where is the pic of you smearing feces in their face....or making them eat s**t pie?
I lived with someone just like that for ten years. His family is exactly like the one in this post. Nobody told me that he was not supporting me, I just accept that I was an idiot and didn't know how to handle myself socially. I still feel like that just because I'm distimic, agoraphobic and border. I'm happy that this woman leave this guy and that family. That wasn't the case for me, he left me for someone younger and socially fit. But is nice to know that someone else could get through this.
I'm sure it started as a fun tradition and soon became a ceremony. Although, it seems to have tripped over into ritual.
The funniest and most memorable Christmas for my kids were when one year, I had been working extra shifts, and already worked 12hr shifts as medical assistant for an asthma and allergy doctor. I thought I had enough wrapping paper for all the gifts. I did, except for one, for my oldest son. So, I did what every sarcastic, IDGAF, it's 2am single mom would do. I went thru the recycling bin for paper, and anything else that caught my eye and made me say, "yesssss!! Lol it was wrapped up in a modge podge of plastic wrappers off soda bottles, candy wrappers, etc. I hid it in my bedroom cuz I knew my boys would get a good laugh at it. They did! Had my camera ready. That was 10yrs ago, and still makes us smile and laugh about it.
She didn't marry traditional, she married money. If you're not from it, you shouldn't marry into bc nothing will ever be enough. Kind of a depressing story though. Not really BP uplift.
I have no issue with him letting his wife take care of the gifts. Especially if he's as inept as I can be. What I do have an issue with is anyone talking down on your wife and you going along with it. Douche nozzle. Sorry she had to go through that and glad she moved on.
He didn't "let" her, he just assumed she would do all the work while claiming to help.
Load More Replies... Despite the problems with the family, I'm sorry it ended in divorce although apparently other people are jumping for joy it didn't work out, I'm surprised they didn't suggest coming up with a hashtag for all the pain you went through!!!!!!
....and all this because of some pretty paper and ribbons? Its called family petty politics.
Says the person who is spending his time on the internet judging strangers.
Load More Replies... SOme of us with monster-in-law types will laugh along, and cry along, with such posts, and feel less alone in the world. But, if you hate these posts, why are you here?
Load More Replies...
350
91