Last Christmas, my well-intentioned gift to my mother-in-law turned our festive family gathering into a catastrophe. I chose a beautiful $900 purple silk scarf, thinking it was a luxurious and thoughtful present. To my shock, she erupted into tears, accusing me of ruining Christmas. She despised the color purple and considered all the gifts, mine being the last, disappointing and cheap.
Despite my confusion, she directed her frustration at me, saying, “As a woman, you should have asked me what I wanted.” The festive atmosphere crumbled, replaced by unresolved tension at the dinner table. My husband and I left early, haunted by her tearful accusations.
This year, she invited us again, presenting a dilemma. Do I risk another emotional storm with a carefully chosen gift, hoping for redemption? Or do I take the path of least resistance, avoiding a repeat of last year’s drama? AITA for not anticipating her color preferences, and how do I salvage the holiday spirit without repeating the same mistake?
