Do Your in Laws Wish You a Happy Mothers Day?

Updated on May 10, 2011
N.F. asks from Beaverton, OR
25 answers

It is my second Mothers Day. Last year, my MIL and FIL didn't wish me a happy Mothers Day. We spent several hours with them that day, and brought my MIL cards and gifts to wish her a happy Mothers Day, as well as a happy first Mothers Day being a Grandmother and not once did she wish me a happy Mothers Day in return. Jump to this year...Again, we spend several hours with them. I hugged her and wished her a happy Mothers Day and all she said was thank you and didn't return the sentiment nor did my FIL.

I realize that I am not their child, and they are not required to wish me a happy anything, but my feelings are really hurt. I thought maybe it was just a fluke the first time, but then it happened again this year. For fathers day last year, they gave their son (my husband) a card and a gift certificate to Best Buy and said Happy Fathers Day at least a 100 times and made a huge deal that it was his first Fathers Day! They do this for all special occassions when it has anything to do with my husband, his brother or his brothers wife. My brother in laws wife had an online sale from Australia and my MIL went out and bought her an Australian flag just to celebrate it.

My quesiton is if you ladies on here think that I am being too sensitive? Do your MIL and FIL wish you a Happy Mothers Day? Are my expectations too high?

For the record, I don't dislike my in-laws. They are really wonderful people. This isn't necessarily an isolated incident, but it's not like they are bad people. Also, I had a fantastic Mothers Day in general and I have to remind myself that just because they have a really good way of hurting my feelings doesn't mean the whole day is ruined. It just kind of ended on a sour note :(.

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M.R.

answers from Provo on

I don't know. My husbands mom and step father both called individually and said happy mothers day. I didn't really expect it actually. So I was a little suprised. HIs real dad on the other hand did not, and I am not suprised because he does not really send me anything ever. My husbands b-day is about 4 days away from mine, and he never acknowledges it. Ususally we are the ones communicating with him though, he rarely calls us and it does bug me sometimes.

3 moms found this helpful
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V.V.

answers from Houston on

My MIL lives in another state, but she always sends me a card for Mother's Day. She is so sweet and I wish she lived closer. We get along really well.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

No, you are not being sensitive. They should wish you a happy mothers day. You are a mom after all. Mine usually sends a card, but this year she called.

2 moms found this helpful

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H.R.

answers from Anchorage on

Yes, they are being rude and disrespectful - basically I would think by their behavior they don't really care for you. If they have the knowledge to do things like that for their own children, and the wife of the other brother in law -- why wouldn't she do it then for you ? Your instincts are correct. You wouldn't feel this way if what she was doing was correct, but she is shafting you intentionally. Next time, do not wish her 'Happy Mother's Day' and personally don't spent it there, make other plans with your own family and enjoy the day with people who do care....maybe by blowing her off just maybe she will eventually get it (or then again, she may not care either way).

2 moms found this helpful
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C.G.

answers from Atlanta on

No, you aren't being too sensitive. I had total strangers today wish me Happy Mothers Day when we were out and about.
Don't know what you can do about it, but wanted to validate your feelings.
Happy Mothers Day!
:)

2 moms found this helpful
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C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

The two ladies at McDonald's told me "Happy Mother's Day" and the lady at Wal Mart said it twice but NOTHING from my OWN mom. BUT then again she decided to STEAL my sister's coupon inserts RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER FACE so that's par for the course.

My MIL is VERY sweet and very sensitive and probably said it 3-4 times to ALL the mom's that were at her house today.

It would be cool if my MIL was my mom but then again that would be a little weird being married to my "brother!" LOL.

2 moms found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I only have an ex father in law (12 years ex status) and yes, he wishes me a happy mother's day, birthday, new job, whatever. He is a sweetie and I am glad we are all still so close. Unfortunately his wife passed away eight years ago.

I wish your hubby would speak up and make a big deal about it for you, maybe they would get it then.

2 moms found this helpful

A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

Half & half. My husbands bio mom did send me a text message (she worked all day) and wished me a happy mothers day. She even invited us out to dinner with them to celebrate. My husbands step-mom, who we were much closer to for a long time, doesn't wish me squat. No happy mothers day, no happy birthday.... Nothing. I wished her a HMD today and she just said "thank you." Same as you. I just accept this as them being them. They have never wished me a HMD as long as I've been a mommy. But like you, I had a great day anyway. My inlaws are just so wrapped up in themselves that they forget to bother with anyone else. Sorry your day ended kind of sour but I'm glad you had a nice day otherwise. :)

1 mom found this helpful
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L.R.

answers from Portland on

Seems like everyone has different ideas about what Mother's Day means. You might think it's a celebration of all mothers and motherhood, while your MIL might think it's a day set aside just for children to honor their own moms, therefore you get nothing from her.

I wouldn't take it too seriously, especially since you seem to have a good relationship otherwise. It probably just never occurred to her to wish you a happy Mom's Day.

If you'd like to change it, next Father's Day, amidst all the gifts and cards, your husband should say something like, "I feel weird accepting this stuff for Father's Day when you never even wish my wife a happy Mother's Day." This will gently get the point across, and I'll bet your MIL will slap herself in the head and feel like a dodo for not thinking of you.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Lancaster on

No, but my in laws also planned to have Christmas dinner at my house the day after I gave birth to my first child and plan their own birthday parties for the same day as my daughter's birthday so I really don't expect to get a "Happy Mother's Day". It's all a matter of expectations. I don't expect anything and I'm never disappointed!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.N.

answers from Seattle on

No. You are not being too sensitive. That is just weird. Maybe in the future don't spend the actual day with them.I am VERY close with my mom, but she says now that my sister and I are moms ourselves, our children need to do the day for us. So, my husband plans the day as my kids are too little and we do something together just as a family. We spend the Saturday before with the Grandmas.
And yes, my MIL wishes my a happy mother's day. She either calls or sends a card every year.
If your in-laws are doing this on a regular basis, then I would tell your husband how much it hurts your feelings. Maybe if he puts it to them that way, they would get it. In the "I got all the girls" such and such senario, I wouldn't have been able to help myself! I would have had to say something like,'"it is ok if you feel like you want to exclude me, but please then don't talk to me about it. It really makes me feel badly."
As for the presents, both my parents and my husbands parents spend more on their actual child than on the in-law. My in-laws were super unequal in the beginning our our marriage, but my parents out did them with their son and I think they felt bad and did better as time went on!

1 mom found this helpful

J.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

older generation... mothers day wishes are generally from your kids, not parents or inlaws. Im sure they dont mean anything, they likely dont think its appropriate. I wouldnt expect it. I think there are alot of expectations flying around, and alot of disappointment. (on this and other sites.) Mothers day is for moms & kids, nothing else. Dont be upset or finish a good day on a sour note because of this. Forget it, be happy about whatever else pleasentries you had for the day!!!

1 mom found this helpful

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Never happened. My MIL was so wrapped up in herself and prostylatizing her religion I quit the happy birthday thing too leaving it to her son.
She was MILzilla. Once when she was offering family things to my children's father and he refused them our daughter said she'd like them. MILzilla's response "I'm keeping these things for members of our family."

1 mom found this helpful

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I'm not sure if you are being sensitive or not...I've not dealt with that. But I will say that I would probably get my feelings hurt as well.

My mother in law sends me a card every year, but that is just who she is...she never forgets a holiday, bday, anniversary or anyting like that.

Me on the other hand I forget it all! However, if I saw you and it was MDay then I would at least say something to you.

Happy Mother's Day...

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Columbus on

To answer the question, no my ILs didn't wish me a Happy Mother's Day. They probably would have if we'd seen them, but no effort was made (no call or card, even though DH called to wish his mom a HMD and we sent a card). However, this is not particularly surprising to me (nor am I disappointed).

I agree with H R that they are not respecting you or offering you the same courtesies as they do their other son, and more to the point, their other DIL (that is a more apples-to-apples comparison).

I would bring this up with your DH, and hopefully he will see it. He should be the one to address it, but if you're uncomfortable enough about it (it's a gray area, I'm sure....) and he won't, then you might bring it up with your MIL and let her know that you've noticed this inequity. But unless they are just really being unconscious about it, it probably won't help to point it out....

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Whether or not I would be sensitive to this omission would depend on how they treated me the rest of the year. Do they accept you as a part of their family? Do they treat you with respect? Are they friendly in other ways? If so, they just may not be socially aware that this would be a good thing to do.

Do they recognize your birthday and buy you a gift for Christmas along with ones for the kids and their son?

1 mom found this helpful

L.G.

answers from Austin on

No, my in-laws did not wish me a happy Mother's day, but who cares.....I had a lovely one without them wishing me one. ;)

I LOATHE my MIL, and my FIL is in another state, and I don't mind that he didn't call.
I don't need all that. I had a wonderful time with my mom, and I had a pretty darn good day myself with my family, so its all good.

1 mom found this helpful

S.H.

answers from Spokane on

My MIL, who lives in MT, had a mother's necklace made for me. My FIL's wife sent me a text this morning.
I don't expect anything from my in-laws and some years it's just a phone call. But whatever they do is always appreciated and unexpected.
Don't be too upset about it. Mother's Day isn't a big holiday to a lot of people ~ and I actually didn't realize that until I was part of this website this year. I thought my family/in-laws was in the norm. I send cards to my sister's and all the grandma's in the family and I text all my friends who are moms. I think any and every Mom should be honored on this day from family, close friends, in-laws, etc.

1 mom found this helpful

C.S.

answers from Redding on

I have to say, I don't understand this new movement to make Mother's Day into "My mother Only's Day." the day is set aside to celebrate Mother's and Motherhood. I think everyone deserves to be celebrated.

Now, that doesn't mean that you have to buy gifts and cards for every mother you know, but a general Happy Mother's Day greeting isn't too much to ask is it?

I guess my point is that while she doesn't need to buy you something, I do think its rude that she wouldn't at least say happy mother's day to you. I don't think you are being overly sensitive.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.G.

answers from Portland on

You might tell your husband your observations. Next year just let her son & not you wish her the Happy Mother's Day & see if she gets it. No gifts & no cards from you, if your Hubby forgets to get her any, all the better. That way they will know who really thinks about them.
I would do the same on Father's Day . You do & give nothing let your Husband do it.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.W.

answers from Portland on

My in-laws say Happy Mother's Day or Happy Birthday and I get a card, but that's it. However, for their own kids, they go all out! Big or lots of expensive gifts, including my husband. And they don't usually call me to say anything, they talk to my husband and ask him to tell me..more for birthdays than other days, but still....

Yesterday my MIL made a comment about what she bought the other DIL in the family for Mother's Day but she didn't get me anything. And she's told me at least twice about things she got "all the girls" for Christmas but that didn't include me. It's odd!

I'm sure she isn't doing it intentionally, but it still hurts my feelings. Especially because my mom is anal about making sure she spends the EXACT amount on each person's gift during the whole year. So my MIL is completely different from what I'm used to.

I'm with you though in that I get along with my in-laws and they are good people. Apparently I'm just not on their radar for gift-giving.

Oh well. I keep telling myself not to worry about it nor let it bother me, but it's hard on those days when it should be different. It's really odd she didn't even wish you a Happy Mother's Day! When you were with her! But what can you do about it? Just know it's odd and wish it was different, but deal with it. (I mean that in the most kind and loving way even though it doesn't sound like it when you read it ;-))

Or if you figure out a better way, I'd love to hear it :-)! I could use some help too, ha!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Wow that's just rude. And kind of weird. We normally don't see my in-laws on Mother's Day (my MIL is deceased, my FIL and his wife live out of state) but certainly if I see them or hear from them within a week of the holiday, they wish me a happy mother's day.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.L.

answers from Seattle on

My MIL has not spoken to me since I became engaged to her son (we have been married 5 years now) and rarely speaks to my husband. So no, I hear nothing from her. My FIL is living in a different country, so we only hear from him when he is visiting the states, but he is great, and I am sure if one of his visits coinsided with mothers day, he would say something.

If I was in your shoes, I would be upset about them not saying something, but not upset about the lack of card/gift. Because they make a big deal out of fathers day for your husband, obviously they do not believe that these are holidays between the child and their parents, as your husband is NOT their father. I think it sucks, BUT, you can't change other people's behavior, only your own. I would not spend any future mothers day with them, nor send your children. Let hubby go to see them solo or call and if they ask why the grandkids are not visiting, hubby can tell them "The kids are celebrating mothers day with their own mother - we want to make this day special for her because we appreciate all that she does for our family"

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Portland on

Well, we spent the whole day with my husband's family and my MIL did say Happy Mother's Day to me once, but no gifts or cards. We do, of course, get her gifts. FIL really not the type to wish it, but they both were really excited to have our kids there with them. They do get my husband gifts and cards for Father's Day. I don't think you should take it personally.

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J.U.

answers from Norfolk on

nope, never has. This year my MIL actually complained to my husband that she didn't get anything and she supposed a phone call was good.

Well, we did send something to her but I guess the mailman is running late. I sent it on Wednesday and normally she would of gotten it by now but maybe tomorrow.

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