MIL conveniently scheduled a celebration on my anniversary

Photo byJoy MemononUnsplash

My significant other (36M) and I (24F) are currently saving up to move in together in September. In the meantime, we each reside in our respective parents’ houses, but we visit each other from time to time as we are in a long-distance relationship. To celebrate our anniversary, I went to stay with him at his parent’s home for a couple of weeks.

We planned to spend our anniversary day outdoors and celebrate our love by spending a significant amount of money, which was symbolic of commemorating the last anniversary we spent apart. However, things took a drastic turn when my SO’s mother decided to have a family dinner on the same day in my brother-in-law’s childhood town, at an upscale restaurant, for no particular reason.

I was taken aback by the sudden plan, and it was clear that my “adorable” MIL had no regard for our anniversary. We had to decline the invitation as we could not afford such an expensive dinner, and it was disappointing to see how little she cared about our special day. When we informed her of our inability to attend, she guilt-tripped us by reminding us that we will soon be moving away, and they won’t have us around for celebrations anymore.

I have a couple of problems with this situation. Firstly, my MIL is intentionally trying to overshadow our anniversary by organizing a big, expensive celebration for no apparent reason. Secondly, my SO is oblivious to her intent and wants to go to the dinner.

This is not the first time my MIL has behaved in such a manner throughout our four-year relationship. She has always tried to take the spotlight away from us and create distractions that take away from our special moments. While this might seem like a minor inconvenience, it is a pattern that has been ongoing for a while.

As a result, I’m wondering if I’m overreacting to her latest actions or if my concerns are valid. It’s frustrating to feel like our love is not being acknowledged or respected, and it’s essential to address this issue before it causes a more significant problem in our relationship.

Do you think this celebration is “out of nowhere” and I’m overreacting? Help!