this is interesting to me as the last conversation I had with my ex-mil was when she called me about a month after my dad's funeral with all sorts of excuses for her absence, and an apology for not acknowledging my birthday or Christmases with gifts since the split, and that she thinks of me all the time, and acknowledges how hard I work and that all the heavy lifting is on my shoulders. She concluded by asking about my new house and saying she wanted to buy me something REALLY nice (read: expensive) that would make my house that much more special to me. Don't worry about how big it is or anything ... she's happy to buy it.
Granted I'm bitter but this is total bs. When I got my new place my mostly broke coworkers pitched in and bought me dishes. They didn't ask me if I needed anything they just paid attention. Not only that but they bought me the exact dishes I wanted. No hoopla, no fanfare just a simple wrapped box sitting on my desk.
So that would be a no from me on this gift. I don't want anything in my house that doesn't bring me joy.
