The focus of Christmas should be about spending time with your loved ones regardless of whether or not you can afford flashy gifts.
But one woman on Mumsnet has said her mum has a very different idea about the festive season – as she’s threatening not to see the woman and her young daughter unless the woman spends at least £200 on presents for her.
The woman explained she has already spent over £100 on a trip to the pantomime for herself, her mum and her seven-year-old daughter, but the mum doesn’t think that’s enough.
She said: “Back in September I mentioned to my mum that my daughter has pointed out she wanted to go to the pantomime and showed me the specific show she wanted to go to.
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“My daughter has never been to the theatre before as it was cancelled last year, and I didn’t have the money before 2020 as I wasn’t working.
“Mum said she wanted to go too but couldn’t afford her own ticket, so I offered to get it her as her Christmas present. But I said that if I did, she’d only get a small present off me to open on Christmas day as the ticket cost is above my usual budget to spend on her. She said this was fine.”
The woman went on to explain that the three of them attended the panto last week and she spent around £120 overall.
But once the show was over, her mum hinted at the other presents she’d be getting this year – leaving the woman to remind her she’d already had her big gift.
She added: “We went to the panto last weekend and had a lovely time. I paid for everything, drove there, paid for parking, bought drinks and a programme each at the theatre. All in the trip cost me about £120.
“Today I’ve seen my mum. She said she’s really looking forward to opening all her presents from me, I reminded her that as I’d paid for us to go to the panto, she would have one small present from under £10.”
The woman explained she never gets presents from her mum because she doesn’t work and can’t afford them – but she’s still demanding more gifts from her daughter.
The mum then told her daughter she was “disappointed” in her for not spending more money and even threatened to not visit on Christmas day – but said she would for the sake of her granddaughter.
The woman wrote: “She’s since text me that she’s disappointed in me and considered not seeing me on Christmas Day but has decided for my daughter’s sake she’ll see me.
“She says she knows I spend upwards of £200 on my daughter, which I have this year because I’ve bought her something she’s been asking for but I’ve never been able to afford before now. Usually, I limit my daughter’s gifts to £70-100.”
And commenters on Mumsnet can’t believe the mum’s cheek – as many of them told the poster to take her up on her offer to not visit.
One person wrote: “I would be taking her up on her offer and not seeing her on Christmas Day.”
While another said: “She sounds very manipulative. Definitely stick with just you and your daughter. What a nerve to complain about what you are spending when she won’t even be getting you a gift!”
And a third added: "I wouldn't get her as anything if I were you, you've paid for the trip, she doesn't get for you and you're having her over on the day, you've done your bit.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
