On December 25, 2022, a woman shared her troubling holiday experience on Reddit’s “AITA” forum. Over three months leading up to Christmas, her sister-in-law (SIL) persistently communicated with the woman’s partner about gift preferences for her teenage children. The SIL made it clear that traditional gifts or toys would not suffice and insisted on cash instead, so the teens could buy what they wanted.
Feeling obligated, the woman, known as the Original Poster (OP), agreed to the arrangement. However, it became increasingly uncomfortable as her mother-in-law, SIL, and even her partner began making pointed comments about the amount of cash expected. To add to her unease, she felt subtle remarks about her religion were also being used to pressure her into compliance.
A Financial Sacrifice Met with Disregard
Despite her reservations, OP decided to give $200 to each of her SIL’s three children, totaling $600. She had worked hard to save this money over the prior three months, feeling it was an excessive amount but wanting to avoid conflict. Yet, throughout the discussions, there was little attention paid to what OP’s own children might want for Christmas.
Her partner assured her that the gesture would be reciprocated, but the reality proved to be far from that promise. OP noted a stark imbalance in how her children were treated compared to her SIL’s kids, which only added to her frustration and sense of unfairness.
A Disappointing Christmas Day
When Christmas Day arrived, OP handed over the cash-filled envelopes to her SIL’s children. The reaction was disheartening. Her SIL took the $600 without so much as a thank-you. To make matters worse, the gifts her children received in return were vastly underwhelming—a $20 Smiggle gift card for each child.
The disparity was glaring, and OP struggled to hide her frustration. While her SIL’s children enjoyed generous cash gifts, her own kids were left with what felt like an afterthought. Feeling the weight of her hard work and financial sacrifice being met with such disregard, OP decided she had had enough.
Walking Away from Christmas Dinner
Upset by the unequal treatment and lack of appreciation, OP left the Christmas gathering with her children. She later reflected on the experience, saying, “I know you’re supposed to be grateful and all with whatever you get, but I worked for 3 months saving that money that I felt I had to give, and I thought was excessive, in return for a joke [sic]?”
The unfairness of the situation, coupled with her partner’s role in pressuring her to comply, left OP feeling deeply resentful. The unequal focus on her SIL’s children at the expense of her own added insult to injury, leading her to question the entire arrangement.
Seeking Validation
In the aftermath, OP turned to Reddit to ask whether her actions were justified. She wanted to know if storming out of the Christmas celebration made her ungrateful or if her feelings of resentment were valid. “AITA for storming out of Christmas lunch being ungrateful for SIL cheapening out on my kid’s Christmas gifts,” she asked.
The situation highlights the emotional and financial strain of navigating family dynamics during the holidays. OP’s story raises questions about fairness, reciprocity, and the importance of valuing everyone’s contributions during such a special time of year.
