Jake and I had a small, modest wedding, and our gifts were meant to help us start our life together. While we were on our honeymoon, we asked Jake’s mother, Linda, to water our plants. When we returned, we found a dumpster full of torn wrapping paper and most of our wedding gifts gone. On the table was a note saying she had taken them as “payment.”
She admitted taking expensive items and cash, claiming we didn’t need them yet. Rather than fight immediately, we documented everything: receipts, photos, and her note. Jake even thanked her, letting her believe we accepted it. Then we filed a police report and an insurance claim, stating the gifts were taken without permission.
Insurance covered most of the loss, and Linda was forced to return everything within days. We don’t see her much anymore—but we gained something more valuable than any gift: clarity about boundaries, respect, and who truly belongs in our future.
