AITA for asking my if mom she got my bf a christmas gift?

I’m 23F and have been with my boyfriend (23M) for 3 years. We’re both young, he’s in college, I’m just barely out. For holidays, we do gifts as a couple, usually I buy for my fam and he buys for his, but it’s from us both. Otherwise we’d go broke. His family gets me gifts every year and my dad gets him gifts. It’s always been fine.

Recently, my mom and I talked out an issue where I didn’t tell her about my dad’s third kid because she wasn’t in a good mental space to hear it and they’re no contact. She told me not to tell him any of her stuff so I thought i’d respect that both ways. She said no, just not her stuff, she wants to hear about his. Whatever, it was worked out.

Last night, we were talking about Christmas Eve. She’s going to my family’s party and wanted me to stay home with my dog because it’s his birthday and she doesn’t want him alone. I said that was fine, but me and my boyfriend had somewhere to be first, so we’d come after. I also told her she could give us our gifts then.

Then she said she didn’t get my boyfriend anything and went off about how he’s “just my boyfriend” and that it’s strange I expected her to get him something. I explained we’ve been together 3 years and reiterated that our gift system is always “from both of us,” but she kept bringing up that he only bought her flowers once and he never does stuff for her. She also compared him to her cousin’s girlfriends. I told her I don’t care if she didn’t get him anything, he wouldn’t notice, and it’s not a big deal. Me and my boyfriend pick gifts for each other’s families too, so even if he didn’t buy something, he helps me pick it, and vice versa.

Then things escalated. She said going forward she won’t talk to me, I told her good luck getting my grandparents from the airport if she won’t speak to me cause how will i get any info? She said “they’ll have to Uber because they don’t have a granddaughter anymore.”

I asked if I could pick them up without her because I didn’t want to drive in a tense car, but she said no. I told her she’d rather turn them against me than talk to me. I then said it feels like she’s only nice to me while my grandparents are away. They’ve been gone a month, and when they come back she doesn’t need me. After that, she started screaming, calling me names, saying she doesn’t want to talk to me anymore, that we won’t be speaking, and that I’m a terrible person. She said things like “YOUR MOTHER IS DEAD! YOU HAVE NO MOTHER!” and She also said my dad left his “filthy spirit” in me. I wasn’t perfectly calm; I responded aggressively at times too because it was scary.

After this, she called her sister at 12am. I didnt answer cause I have work 7am. I still haven’t messaged or anything.

So, AITA for how I handled this, and for not answering her sister..?

EDIT: Thanks everyone. It’s hard for me to be able to tell sometimes if im wrong or not because my grandparents and extended family start ganging up on me. I am seriously considering no contact but I have a dog that lives with my mom who i’m really attached to , I’m also the only child but I agree it’s probably what’s needed for my mental health, maybe low contact.

13 thoughts on “AITA for asking my if mom she got my bf a christmas gift?”
  1. NTA. I would just go NC with my mother and visit with them and completely ignore her. She sounds terrible.

  2. NTA. It sounds like the relationship is a lot more complicated than just her not getting a gift for your bf. I’d go full NC with this woman, block her and all who support her on all channels. You don’t need this kind of toxicity in your life

    1. My bf has never had any issues with her he’s overall sweet. She’s always asking me when we’re getting married and I tell her to stop because we’re young and it’s strange to push us, maybe that’s why she’s upset? To be honest maybe because her and her parents and family always gang up on me, but i thought i was more of an AHOLE in this situation than it seems i am. I think about going no contact but im her only child and my dog lives with her.

  3. Nta your mom is very toxic. 1st your dad having a 3rd kid isn’t really any of her business especially if they weren’t even together when he had the kid. 2nd she is literally blowing up at you over nothing and calling you names that’s not healthy. You are better off going no contact with her to keep your peace. I am so sorry you have such a shit mom.

    1. maybe i should add that he cheated on her 7 years ago i found out and told her, that’s why they got divorced, i was in high school. She also tries to say i blackmailed her into leaving him cause i told her if she stayed with a cheating man i was gonna dorm cause that would have been uncomfortable for me (she originally forgave him but expected us all in the house to ignore him and act like he didn’t exist it was weird, just leave at that point.) but i still agree it isn’t 100% her business, but he’s nice to me and does what he needs to as a dad always there financially etc it’s not like he completely abandoned us

  4. NTA – You were not demanding. You just asked. When she said she didn’t get him something you didn’t put up a fuss. She sounds extremely toxic. I would go low contact at the very least for your own sanity.

  5. My son has been with his girlfriend a little over a year. I bought her birthday and now holiday gifts. That is his person and i will accept her into my family. You mom doesn’t care……

  6. You’re not the AH.

    You tried to explain calmly and de-escalate the situation. The gift issue wasn’t a big deal to you, but your mom’s reaction was extreme and crossed serious lines, including threats, name-calling, and emotionally abusive statements. It’s understandable that you reacted emotionally when being attacked like that. Not answering her sister at midnight was reasonable, especially since you had work and needed space. The situation is less about the gift and more about unhealthy communication and boundaries, and you’re allowed to protect your peace.

  7. ESH, they definitely reacted way too harsh and stupidly. But, again, he is only your boyfriend. She really has no need to get him a gift. If he was your husband there’s a difference but he’s just your boyfriend, she has no idea if he will be your forever guy. And maybe consider her distrust in men in relationships due to her issues with your dad?

    1. I get that, but it felt weird for her to have this reaction considering she has me take our dog to his house and his parents take care of our dog when she’s away. I thought with how they watched our dog and kept me in their house for 2 weeks so I wasn’t alone she would have wanted to give him something, but again, it’s fine i wasn’t offended and my bf prob won’t even notice. It was her reaction that offended me and her trying to say he was just my boyfriend… we’ve been together 3 years and he isn’t “just my boyfriend” when she goes away, suddenly he’s the closest person and our life line lol.

    1. that’s what she told me, lol. It also seems like I wasn’t invited? This happens often, I have to stay behind with my dog as per my mom during family events

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