MIL's... Do they really mean well?

My IL's haven't seen me or my son since New Year's. Well, we went to see them this weekend for Easter and she ended up giving him a laundry basket filled with toys for Easter. She said since everything she got for him was large it wouldn't fit into an Easter basket. Well, let's just say that it made my basket for Caiden feel worthless. I didn't even get to give it to him really since what she gave him her's first, and he was playing for a while with what she had for him. I basically only had it sitting up in the room we were staying in, and just let him see the stuff before we were leaving for home. I know it's really not a big deal because he's only 2, but it still made me feel less of a mom because it wasn't as big as her's, do you know what I mean? My DH said not to get upset she's just trying to be nice. I still don't feel like she was. It's like she tries to outdo me or something. Maybe she was just trying to be nice, but it still made me feel bad. Sorry, just needed to vent. It was a LONG weekend at the IL's!!!

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

I'm sorry you are feeling down, but I think that you need to look at the situation another way. I do believe that it is the grandparents priviledge to spoil their grandchildren. What a wonderful thing for Caiden that the ILs are so generous to him.

Don't worry, they can't buy his love from you -- no matter how elaborate thier gifts are, he knows who takes care of him every day. Let them spend all the money they like, you'll always be his favorite!

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

Didn't that just mean he had more toys to play with during the visit? I don't really see a huge problem.
I think it's good she didn't do it in a basket because I think baskets should really come from the parents and not the Grandparents.

I wouldn't worry about it, I'm sorry she made you feel bad.

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

Maybe she got him all that stuff because she hasn't seen him since New Year's Eve? It doesn't sound like she was purposely trying to make you feel bad.

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

I'm sure she didn't intentionally outdo you. Grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren, my mom already spoils Miranda.
I would just look at the bright side and be glad you have IL's that love your son and want to spoil him. At his age he doesn't think grandma's basket was better than mommy's.

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

Awwhhh, your little guy won't notice the difference. At this age, they don't really judge you gave them this vs. they got that from someone else. I didn't give Amber anything but a few books from the dollar store, yet everyone else assumed it was Christmas! So I guess I'm grincho mommy too

I hope Caiden had a nice Easter

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

It sounds like your MIL might have felt a little guilty for not seeing him in so long, so she tried to spoil him. My parents and my in-laws spoil my daughter and they love to do it. Neither of them had any money when their kids were young, so now that they are comfortable they spend money on my daughter. I love it. It helps us out and really no harm is done. There could be worse things than too many gifts. Just remember that no one could replace or out do you- you are the mother.

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

I can understand your feeling hurt and all but you have to remember they IL's haven't seen him since New Years so she is trying to spoil him all in one visit. Think of this they only get to see him every couple of months and you see him all the time and get to spoil him and take care of him all the time.

Re: MIL's... Do they really mean well?

Children do not give love based on the size of a gift. Your son just had a lot of generous gifts..that is a nice thing. I am sure he loved what the Easter Bunny brought and what grandma got him.