It appears that more and more mini holidays are popping up and as if mother’s day wasn’t enough mother’s day the sequel aka Mother-In-Law’s Day or “the mother who doesn’t love you” day, is here. At first I didn’t know this was an actual thing but it’s a great opportunity to mitigate the relationship with the mother of our spouse or future relationship. Instead of her saying, “My son in law is a tool.” After this Mother-In-Law Day she might say “Check out this cool thing my jackass of a son-in-law got me. Maybe he is good for something”. There is a difference.
Your best bet is to find out what her habits and hobbies are as dinner and/or flowers might not be enough. You could give her something that would feed into her already horrible mania and walk away. But if you’re smart you will get her something she’s going to brag about to her friends, and that’s when things start to change… a little. Or a lot! You’re still not good enough, but she’ll like what you got her. And one day she’ll say, “Eh, he’s not that much of a tool”. See there’s your difference. If you’re one of the few that have a good relationship with their mother-in-laws or they’re in another country - I hate you. And for the rest of us, I’ve felt you pain. But here are some pretty cool gift ideas that might make future holidays and gatherings with her a little less challenging (items taken from PR press release).
Krups Wine Aerator ($499) - (For the Wine Enthusiast) For the perfect pour, store and preserve two varietals at once with this state-of-the-art wine keeper-dispenser. Two 50-degree pre-set chilling chambers can be customized separately to your preferred temperature between 7 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Each is outfitted with an aerator to advance the "breathing" process and open up the full bouquet of wines quickly, while simultaneously vacuum-pressurizing contents to delay oxidation (5–7 days for white wine, 7–10 days for red wine).
KRUPS Personal Tea Kettle ($49.99) - (For the Tea Afficionado) The KRUPS Personal Tea Kettle is a great option for the Mother-in-Law who enjoys a regular afternoon tea-time. This machine comes complete with an internal water circulation system for infusing tea and its sleek design and will look great on her kitchen counter!
Milky Chai Tea Set from Ten Thousand Villages ($59.00 for Pot, $18.00 for Teacup) - (For the Tea Afficionado) Handcrafted for Ten Thousand Villages by artisans of Sana Hastakala, which means "small handicraft" in Nepali. This nongovernmental, nonprofit export organization based in Kathmandu provides training and marketing assistance to artisans.
Organic Cotton Waffle Robe from Coyuchi ($99.00) - (For the Woman Who Loves Luxury) The classic spa robe, reinvented as only Coyuchi can. Made from 100% organic cotton in an airy, drapey waffle weave, it's prewashed to be soft from day one and get more so with every wash. Monogramming available.
Rustic Linen Blanket from Coyuchi ($188.00) - (For the Woman Who Loves Luxury) Linen gets its unmistakable character from variations in the yarn that create soft slubs throughout the weave. Coyuchi's Rustic Linen highlights and celebrates that rich texture with chunky yarns woven in variegated yarn-dyed stripes, backed with soft, undyed ivory cotton to create a blanket that's cozy, breathable and welcome on any bed in every season.
Cottage Garden Scarf from Ten Thousand Villages ($24.00) - (For the Altruist) Lightweight chiffon with a slightly vintage vibe, this scarf is handmade for Ten Thousand Villages by Asha, a Fair Trade organization that represents more than 6,500 artisans in 10 states of India. The association's name, meaning "hope" in Sanskrit, represents its goal to sustain the marketing ability of individual and family–based artisans.
Mother-In-Law Day lands on October 26th