Merry Christmas--it's me!

[Tabris]

I have a question. Is it a little strange that my MIL took a glamour shot of herself and sent us a picture frame and a canvas-type print of the photo as Christmas gifts? This is in addition to having that shot of herself on her Christmas card.

We think it might be a reaction to the fact that we a) have a wall of family photos and b) our photos of her on that wall are with my now-deceased FIL, but none of her alone.

My husband thinks it's strange, though, and a little PA because she "can't come right out and ask us to put a photo of her on our wall."

I plan to put up the photo, but I was wondering whether that's a strange Christmas gift.

[jfulle5]

Yeah it's a little strange but it seems that she might have gotten the glamour shot for other reasons, such as making herself feel better or something along those lines...

[housewife2k]

I don't think it's that strange. She is doing something that makes her feel good about herself, and wants too share it, also making sure that you have a picture of her alone. Thank her for the picture, and find an appropriate place to display it.  Iwould not think it strange unless it was an obviously innapropriate picture, which this doesn't sound like it is.

[think4yourself]

I don't think it's that strange. She is doing something that makes her feel good about herself, and wants too share it, also making sure that you have a picture of her alone. Thank her for the picture, and find an appropriate place to display it.  Iwould not think it strange unless it was an obviously innapropriate picture, which this doesn't sound like it is.

I agree. This doesn't seem strange to me at all. It sounds as though she thinks you are close enough that you would appreciate a photo of her, and wants to share one that she really likes.

[Morty'sCleaningLady]

It's probably a little much.  If MIL thought the picture was great, I can understand her sharing it.  I do a photo card that includes a Mrs. B portrait each year.  The tote bag seems a bit superfluous, but she probably got a great deal and gave them to all 'the kids'.  She probably thought everyone could use an extra tote.

Maybe she was hinting that she'd like more photos of the Tabris clan?

[veryfluffy]

I thought it was VERY strange at first, since in the UK "glamour shot" is a euphemism for "topless." "Glamour models" are the ones that appear on Page Three and in the kind of calendars they put up in garages. But I guess you meant glamour in the sense of made-up and wearing bling?

[MelJill]

I thought it was VERY strange at first, since in the UK "glamour shot" is a euphemism for "topless." "Glamour models" are the ones that appear on Page Three and in the kind of calendars they put up in garages. But I guess you meant glamour in the sense of made-up and wearing bling?

Around these parts (US), it's probably something w/ make-up, nice hair-do, not necessarily bling, but w/ some of the nice touches like air-brushing out any blemishes, soft-focus and such.

I received a photo of my grandfather from my aunt (mother's sister, this being my maternal grandfather) in a nice frame--but considering he turned 90 this month, there's not likely to be a lot of other pictures of him, so I'm glad to have a really nice one from his healthier days.

I've given a family shot to my parents (we had pictures done for a church directory), and received a shot of them from when *their* church did a church directory (we live 900 miles apart).  So, I don't think it's an odd gift in that degree of relationship ... unless there's something odd in the relationship itself.

[DottyG]

I thought it was VERY strange at first, since in the UK "glamour shot" is a euphemism for "topless." "Glamour models" are the ones that appear on Page Three and in the kind of calendars they put up in garages. But I guess you meant glamour in the sense of made-up and wearing bling?

This is Glamour Shots:  http://www.glamourshots.com/

[Clara Bow]

I snorted Diet Sierra Mist up my nose when I read about the UK version of the Glamour Shot...that was hilarious. I have this mental picture now....
My step mother inlaw gave us an 8x10 picture of herself and FIL. I thought it was really weird. We do not have any other large pics of our parents (my folks and hubby's mother and step father), or any other family really. I thought it was really odd...but stepmother in law is a force of nature unto herself, and a bit of a narcissist.

[Adah]

We think it might be a reaction to the fact that we a) have a wall of family photos and b) our photos of her on that wall are with my now-deceased FIL, but none of her alone.

Step-MIL did this a few years ago with FIL. I had a similar reaction as you did and attributed it partly to the fact that we had many pictures of deceased MIL as well as my parents and other family members in our house, but none of her and FIL. I still find the photo odd.

[Lunadiana75]

Well, one year my brother, SIL, step sister and her husband, and myself had portarits done of all us kids to give as gifts to all the parents (different people in the picture depending on what set of parents were getting it). But I think children doing it is sweet, parents doing it is just strange. 

[HogwartsAlum]

I don't think it's that strange. She is doing something that makes her feel good about herself, and wants too share it, also making sure that you have a picture of her alone. Thank her for the picture, and find an appropriate place to display it.  Iwould not think it strange unless it was an obviously innapropriate picture, which this doesn't sound like it is.

I agree. This doesn't seem strange to me at all. It sounds as though she thinks you are close enough that you would appreciate a photo of her, and wants to share one that she really likes.

I thought the same thing.  Especially since the only other ones were of both her and FIL.

My mom has pictures of us three kids hanging on her hallway wall, but she chose the UGLIEST picture of me imaginable.  If I got a decent picture made, I would give it to her so she could put it up and at least people could see that I don't look like that all the time!

[IndianInlaw]

I think it's a bit weird that it's a glamour shot and not something of a "grandmother" nature.

It's for her grandchildren to look at, for crying out loud.

I'm sure it's wholesome, but gee whiz.

[Bea]

I'm sure she didn't mean it to be strange, but nonetheless it IS a little strange.  Maybe because it's not a grandma-type picture and it's a glamour shot?  I don't know.  Reminds me of a friend I had in my twenties, for Christmas I gave her CDs and things like that and she was taking a photo class and she gave me three 8x10 matted photos... of herself!  Taken with the self-timer on her camera.  I liked her and all, but it seemed a little narcissistic of her to imagine I wanted three huge pictures of her hanging in my house.

[Lisbeth]

I have a question. Is it a little strange that my MIL took a glamour shot of herself and sent us a picture frame and a canvas-type print of the photo as Christmas gifts? This is in addition to having that shot of herself on her Christmas card.

We think it might be a reaction to the fact that we a) have a wall of family photos and b) our photos of her on that wall are with my now-deceased FIL, but none of her alone.

My husband thinks it's strange, though, and a little PA because she "can't come right out and ask us to put a photo of her on our wall."

I plan to put up the photo, but I was wondering whether that's a strange Christmas gift.

It might be strange, but I'm wondering if this is just your MIL's way of making the transition from being married to once again single after what must be several decades, now that she is widowed.

I'd let it go unless she makes a pattern of ego-inflating gestures, in which case I think she would need professional help.