My Future MIL Handed Me a List of Gifts I ‘Owed’ Her to Be Accepted into the Family – So I Taught Her a Lesson She’ll Never Forget
When I got engaged to my fiancé, I was beyond thrilled. He’s kind, loyal, and everything I ever hoped for. But I quickly realized that marrying him meant also dealing with his mother—my future mother-in-law, who I’ll just call Linda. And Linda? Well, she believes she’s royalty. From the day we got engaged, she treated me more like a contestant trying to earn a spot in the family than someone about to become her daughter-in-law.
It started small—comments about my clothes, my job, the way I cooked. But then it escalated. One day, at a family brunch, Linda pulled me aside with a smug smile and handed me an envelope. Inside was a list titled: “Gifts I Expect Before You Officially Join Our Family.” I kid you not. It included items like a designer handbag “to show appreciation,” diamond earrings “to match her status,” a weekend spa trip “to bond,” and even a cash contribution toward her upcoming birthday party.
I was stunned. My fiancé was embarrassed, of course, and offered to talk to her, but I told him I’d handle it. I knew this wasn’t about gifts. This was a power play—a test. So I decided to play back.
I wrote her a polite message thanking her for the list and said I wanted to honor her wishes—with a twist. A week later, I invited her to a tea party at my place. Everything looked beautiful: flowers, silverware, and a wrapped box for each item on her list. She was glowing—until she opened them.
Inside the box labeled “designer handbag” was a tiny purse for a doll. The diamond earrings? Plastic costume jewelry from a dollar store. The spa day voucher? A homemade coupon for a bubble bath set and a candle. And the “cash contribution”? Monopoly money—neatly folded and tied with a ribbon.
Her face turned crimson. “Is this a joke?” she asked, stunned. I smiled sweetly. “Yes. A joke to match the list you gave me.”
She was speechless. And I finally told her: “If being accepted into this family means buying your approval, then maybe I’m not the one who needs to change. Respect isn’t bought—it’s earned. And I won’t play games to win it.”
She stormed out, of course. But something shifted. My fiancé stood by me, and slowly, her attitude changed. I think she realized I wasn’t going to be a pushover. We’re still not best friends, but she hasn’t pulled another stunt like that since.
Sometimes, the best way to teach someone a lesson isn’t through anger—but with a mirror, showing them just how ridiculous their behavior really is.
