Frustrated daughter-in-law

by Julie
(Atlanta)

When my husband and I married, we agreed to spend thanksgiving with his family and Christmas with my family. We actually exchanged gifts with his family at thanksgiving so we had the best of both worlds. After my husband's sister passed away a few years ago, our tradition changed. We continued to spend thanksgiving with my mother-in-law and invited her to our home as well for Christmas. We just got back from our thanksgiving visit and discussed when she would come for Christmas this year. She made an excuse to me that she did not want to leave her dog and so I told her to bring her dog with her. When my husband asked her separately about coming, she said that she had not been invited yet. We received a package today with pint sized yet extravagant gifts. It's 2 weeks until Christmas and she usually brings her gifts with her so I am confused about why she sent them early. Her relationship with my husband is strained and I feel like she wants us to beg her to come. I don't like being manipulated and feel like begging her to visit will only enable her behavior, which I perceive as childish. Any suggestions?