From real life. “Mother-in-law gave our wedding presents to her niece”: She said they would be 'more useful to her'

When Piotr and I returned home after the wedding, tired but happy.

Our wedding was a special day – full of love, laughter and emotion. The guests were there, the wishes were heartfelt and the gifts were beautifully wrapped. Amidst all this, I felt like the happiest person in the world. I didn't know then that one gesture from my mother-in-law would make me remember this day for another reason – because of betrayal.

When Piotr and I returned home after the wedding, tired but happy, we couldn't wait to see what our guests had given us. Gifts, envelopes, and even small souvenirs were supposed to be symbols of their love and support. However, when we started opening the boxes, we noticed that something was wrong.

– „Piotrek, where are those big boxes we left at your mom's? She said she'd help us store them because they wouldn't fit in the car.” I asked.

Piotr looked at me, confused.

– „Indeed, they were supposed to be at her place. I'll go tomorrow and pick them up.”

I didn't think much of it. I was sure that my mother-in-law, though domineering at times, simply kept the presents safe for us.

The next day Piotr returned with a look on his face I couldn’t read. He had only one small box in his hands.

– „What happened? Where are the rest of the presents??– I asked, and my heart started beating faster.

– „Mom gave them away.”

I froze. She gave them away? To whom? Why?

– „How she gave it back? They were our presents!”

Piotr sat down heavily on the couch.

– „She said she gave them to her niece because ‚she'll need them more. Apparently they need things for their new apartment.”

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Our gifts, the ones we received from family and friends, were supposed to be the beginning of our life together, and my mother-in-law simply thought they could be used by someone else.

I picked up the phone and called her, even though my hands were shaking.

– „Mrs. Krystyna, is it true that you gave our gifts back?”

Her voice sounded indifferent.

– „Yes, Ania. They were just things. And Karolina and Michał really need them. You'll manage, you have everything.”

I couldn't stand it.

– „Those were our gifts! How could you make such a decision without our consent?”

– „Don't exaggerate, Ania. What difference does it make who uses them? You and Piotr have well-paid jobs, and they barely make ends meet. You should be proud that you were able to help them.”

I hung up, not knowing what to say. I felt betrayed, as if someone had taken something that was part of our life together. Piotr tried to calm me down, but he was clearly agitated himself. But he couldn't stand up to his mother – as always.

For the next few weeks, I avoided seeing my mother-in-law. I felt as if a chasm had opened between us that could never be bridged. When I finally decided to visit her to talk face to face, I found Karolina – my mother-in-law’s niece – sitting in the living room.

On the table was one of our gifts – an elegant set of china that my parents had given us.

„Karolina, do you know that these were our things?– I asked, not hiding my emotions.

Karolina looked surprised.

– „Auntie said they were from her. I had no idea they were yours. Ania, I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to…”

The conversation with my mother-in-law ended in an argument. She didn't see anything wrong with her behavior. She claimed that she „helped the family” and that I should be grateful to her for thinking of others.

– „Ania, family is what matters in life. You don't understand it yet, but you'll thank me someday.”

I never thanked her. Those gifts were a symbol of a new beginning, and she took them away from us, seeing nothing wrong with it.

Today, my relationship with my mother-in-law is good, but cold. I still feel pain when I think about what she did, but I've learned that some people will never admit they're wrong. This event taught me that even in a family you have to fight for your boundaries – and for what belongs to you.

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