Son Realizes His Mom's Annual Birthday Camping Trips For Him Were Really For Her

She ignored the tornado warnings and was more concerned about the food they were supposed to bring than their safety

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• July 23, 2023

It must have hurt this OP's husband when he realized his birthdays were always about his mother. His mom's attempt at celebrating his day might have peaked this year.

OP's future mother-in-law hosts an annual camping trip to celebrate her son's birthday. FMIL invites her friends and tells OP's fiancé to invite his own guests.

This year, one of their friends said yes, and her fiancé's brother, who doesn't enjoy camping, agreed to tag along. The weekend before the trip, FMIL called to discuss food rations.

OP and her fiancé were in charge of buying all the meat, vegetables, and beers. OP quickly realized they had the pricier options but agreed to FMIL's terms anyway.

OP's fiancé asked his mom to give him cash in lieu of a gift days before the trip. He knows his mother's tendency to gift people with random items — like the tire covers she gifted them for Christmas one year.

FMIL replied that the camping trip was his gift which upset OP. She told her fiancé to ask his mom if she planned on reimbursing them for the food items they bought for everyone.

FMIL replied that it's the family's tradition for the birthday celebrant to pay for their guests. That upset OP further, but her fiancé said it's better to keep the peace, and OP promised to support him no matter what.

By 6 PM that Friday, OP, her fiancé, and their friend were ready to start their two-and-a-half-hour drive to the campsite

OP's FMIL is already at the secluded site where there is barely any reception, but she didn't give them any directions

So the group took the lake route. 15 minutes away from the site and the road was barely passable. Her fiancé's brother was ahead of them and his car got stuck.

The road beyond is flooded due to the tornado headed their way. The detour is an hour of extra drive. It was already 9 PM and they were all unhappy. The group decided to go home than risk their lives.

OP's fiancé was messaging to ask where they were and when she realized they weren't coming at all, she showed more concern about the food and drinks being there than their safety. OP and the group got home and celebrated her fiancé's birthday where he, for once, was the actual center of attention.

Her reaction when they couldn't get there supports this theory. She wanted to be celebrated for giving birth to her son.

Risking your life for someone else's self-serving camping trip isn't anyone's ideal birthday scenario

It's an annual thing!

The amount of control she has over him isn't healthy for him and his other relationships

Her behavior now is the improved version of she used to treat her kids?

It could be just him picking which battles to fight. Engaging with everything she does sounds exhausting and we don't even know her.

Well, mother-in-law should have enjoyed that camping trip because it was the last one

FMIL may just seem like an improved version of herself because they don't see her everyday

FMIL is on thin ice and if she continues her self-centered ways, she may just lose her son altogether

With the price of goods these days, FMIL should consider the meat, veggies, and beers as her birthday and Christmas gifts this year

It will be interesting if that family tradition holds true for her own birthday

It looks like OP and her future husband are on the same page when it comes to dealing with his mom. They know exactly the type of person she is and are better equipped when interacting with her.

The amount of hoops they had to jump through for her camping trips is astounding. I wonder if FMIL will go on a solo camping trip next year to honor her son's birthday.

Chelsi