DEAR ABBY: For my mother-in-law's birthday, my husband and I gave her what I considered a nice gift.
A week later, she came to my office, handed me the gift and said, "You can have this back. I already have one."
I was dumbfounded, but managed to ask her if she didn't want to exchange it and pick out something else. She replied, "I'll think about it," and left with the gift.
That was two months ago, and so far I haven't heard another word about it. I think her behavior was another example of rude, covert emotional abuse -- always delivered with a smile -- which seems to be her pattern with me.
Do you think I am overreacting because I am angry about this situation? -- HURT
DEAR HURT: Whether you are overreacting or not depends on how much of yourself you invested in selecting a gift for a woman you think is emotionally abusive. Her behavior was certainly rude.
Since you don't know how your mother-in-law resolved the problem, ask her how she handled it. And on gift-giving occasions in the future, consider presenting her with a gift certificate enclosed in a lovely card. That way there will be no further duplications or disappointments.