A woman was left in shock after her mother-in-law gifted her a tattoo removal voucher for her birthday.
The 31-year-old said her mother-in-law treats her like a ‘rebellious teenager’ instead of her son’s wife because of her body art.
The woman took to Reddit to describe her mother-in-law’s not-so-subtle hint about how she feels about her daughter-in-law’s tattoos.
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“My husband (43m) and I (31f) have been married for three years, together for six,” the woman said in her Reddit post.
"Obviously there is an age gap between my husband and I, which has never been an issue for us.
"My mother-in-law, however, has always greatly disapproved and likes to talk to me like I am a rebellious teenager. A big issue for her is the fact that I have tattoos."
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The woman said her tattoos are a ‘huge part of her identity’ and her husband loves them.
“I can’t imagine myself without them,” she said.
"My mother-in-law made a few comments while we were dating but my husband told her privately to drop it."
But it seems his warning went completely over his mum’s head, as she decided to give her daughter-in-law a $500 (£393) voucher to have her tattoos removed as a birthday gift.
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"My husband and I hosted our families for my birthday dinner," she shared. "Everyone was nice enough to bring me a gift.
"I was going to open them after everyone left but my mother-in-law handed me an envelope at the dinner table and insisted I open it immediately.
"Inside was a card and a gift certificate to a local tattoo removal business for $500. I was confused and asked her what this was for.
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"She said that since I was a married woman now and planning to have kids, she assumed I would want my tattoos removed.
"Both my husband and I were kind of taken back and stunned. I half-heartedly thanked her and the party continued.
"Later, my husband called her and told her off. He insisted she take it back and get her money back. She absolutely refused and insisted I would want it someday."
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Although the woman didn’t use the voucher herself, it didn’t go to waste. While re-gifting is seen as a big no-no, the woman donated the gift card to a man who wanted to have a hate symbol removed from his arm.
"I have a friend who is the director of a restorative justice organisation,” she said.
"I asked her if she had any clients with hate symbols they would like removed and it turns out she works with a guy who has a swastika on his arm that he hides every day because he is so ashamed.
"This is particularly significant and powerful for me because I’m Jewish.
"I am dropping it off today and I’m really pleased that something that started as a disrespectful slight from my mother-in-law turned into this."
This is what you call a wholesome ending to an awkward situation.
Topics: Life, Real Life, Sex and Relationships
Gregory Robinson