There's been a simmering row going on all over Christmas between my daughter and her husband and son-in-law's mum. She has been widowed for 6 years. Every year she buys loads of presents for our granddaughter (aged 5 now). This year, another little (adopted) boy joined the family, bringing with him toys from his foster home. My daughter expressly asked us not to buy too much, as space is scarce in their house.
Well, Christmas Day arrived. My husband picked up daughter's MIL, and there were 14 Christmas bags of various sizes, plus bigger toys which would not fit into a bag. So much stuff in the (estate) car that there was no room for me and my 3 bags of presents, and hubby had to come back for me!
Plus there is a huge wooden train-set still awaiting collection from her house that just would not fit in the car. This train-set is so heavy that it's in a box with castors on it! Distressed Daughter: "Where the f--- are we going to put that?"
Opening presents was an absolute nightmare. They covered the whole of the lounge floor, so that nobody could move!
She is very generous, and lovely - but just won't listen!
Then, on New Year's Day (our house), she told daughter and son-in-law that they had bought too many presents for the children! You could have heard a pin drop before son-in-law exploded!
I don't want this to escalate into a huge row, but fear that it's likely to.
(She was asked, before Christmas, to buy just a couple of presents, and if she wanted to, put money into the children's bank accounts.)
