On December 21, 2022, an anonymous male poster shared his story in the “True Off My Chest” subreddit. For the first two years of their three-year-long relationship, the man, aged 23, and his 24-year-old male partner spent Christmas at the latter’s family home.

Right from their initial meeting, he noticed a strained relationship with his partner’s mother. Despite their limited interaction, he hoped to mend things during the Christmas gatherings.

Wanting to make a good impression, the man picked out what he believed was a thoughtful gift for his partner’s mother: a minimalist necklace with green agate, a hue he thought was her favorite. She seemed pleased at first, but months later, he discovered she had given it away.

The man was surprised when he saw her niece wearing the same chain, who revealed that his partner’s mother had intended to throw it out. Upon learning this, the original poster was frustrated; the necklace had cost him $100, a significant amount for someone living paycheck to paycheck.

However, to his disappointment, her response was underwhelming.

In return, he received an Iron Maiden shirt from her, an odd choice given his appearance didn’t align with the typical metalhead stereotype. His style leaned towards cottage-core, evident from his preference for overalls and rustic clothing. The mismatched gift, coupled with the disappointment of the necklace incident, left him feeling unsatisfied.

To bridge the gap, the following Christmas, the man genuinely tried to connect with his partner’s mother. He reached out to her sister, his partner’s aunt, and discovered that she shared their hometown but missed it dearly despite the ten-hour drive that made visiting difficult.

Eager to find common ground, he brought up their hometown during their next meeting. As they reminisced about the town, a particular detail caught his attention—the distinct smells of the macadamia farm next to a bourbon distillery, as well as the beach surrounded by eucalyptus and wattles.

Thinking he had found the perfect gift, he commissioned two custom candles from a friend: one with macadamia, whiskey, and vanilla scent and the other with the aroma of salt, eucalyptus, and wattle. He eagerly anticipated his partner’s mom’s reaction when she opened the candles on Christmas day.

However, to his disappointment, her response was underwhelming. She simply remarked, “Oh. That’s neat,” and set the candles aside. Fortunately, her sister showed genuine enthusiasm for the thoughtful gifts and even convinced her to light them while they sat outdoors.

Later, the man’s partner’s mom casually handed off the candles to her sister after their departure. The aunt, appreciating the candles, called the man and his partner, expressing her excitement and inquiring about how to acquire more.

Disheartened by the lukewarm reception of his previous efforts, the man decided to plan an extravagant Christmas/birthday combined gift for his partner’s mother. Wanting to mend their strained relationship, he thought of a grand gesture: a week-long trip to their hometown, complete with hotels, drinks, food, and travel expenses.

The total cost amounted to $2000, with him and his partner’s father splitting the bill. He diligently saved up throughout the year for this special occasion, hoping that this gesture would help win her favor.

A week before the planned trip, his partner met with his mother, and to the man’s dismay, she expressed her disinterest in receiving any gifts, dismissing the idea of “tacky little trinkets bought from Target.” Feeling defeated, he canceled the holiday he had painstakingly planned.

With the refund, OP redirected his efforts toward making his partner happy. He used his share of the money to purchase Lego sets that his partner had always wanted but couldn’t afford. This gesture was his way of expressing gratitude for his partner’s support and love.

The Lego sets were set to arrive in a month, and the man contemplated giving them to his partner as a thoughtful Valentine’s present to show his appreciation for their enduring relationship.

On Sunday, December 18, 2022, the man decided to have an early Christmas gathering since it was the only opportunity to celebrate with his partner’s grandmother while she was in town. As the gift-giving moment arrived, the man conspicuously left out a gift for his partner’s mom while generously gifting everyone else.

She noticed the omission and, although upset, chose to remain silent. Later, she took her son aside and inquired about her missing gift. He revealed that her gift had been selected and subsequently refunded, following her specific request.

This revelation triggered a highly emotional outburst from the mother, marked by yelling and crying, albeit without actual tears. In a fit of anger, she upended the table, sending food scattering, and abruptly departed, driving home alone.

In the following days, the woman persistently called her son and OP, desperately attempting to persuade them to change their decision. However, only her mother sided with her. The man, unapologetically embracing his pettiness, found amusement in answering her calls.

As they looked ahead to another Christmas lunch with his partner’s dad’s side of the family the following Sunday, he couldn’t help but anticipate what drama might unfold on this occasion.

The man expressed gratitude for the support he received online and clarified an important point: there was no underlying homophobia in his partner’s mom’s behavior. Despite her unkind actions, she was an outspoken LGBTQ supporter. However, her meanness seemed to be a characteristic aspect of her personality.