Paid 15k to freeze with my father-in-law while she works

We spent a fortune flying up north to visit my husband’s mom, only to find out she’s ditched us for extra work shifts. Why the hell did we even bother?

I’m absolutely fuming right now and trying not to explode, but I need to get this out before I either cancel everything or lose it completely.

Here’s the deal: my husband is an only child, we have one kid, and his parents live hours away in the middle of nowhere — like, actual snow-covered isolation up north. We live way down south. They’ve been good about visiting us regularly, so fair enough, it was time we made the trip.

So, months ago, my mother-in-law told us she would definitely take time off during Easter. She said it multiple times — no work, just family time. They kept asking if we could visit, and after going back and forth, we finally said yes and booked flights. Total cost? Over 15,000 NOK. Which, by the way, is not pocket change for us. It’s a major hit to our budget.

And today — a few days before we fly out — she casually drops the bomb that she’s picked up extra shifts. Not just a few hours. No. She’s working three full 12-hour days over Easter. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The entire damn holiday. That leaves us with Wednesday and Thursday with her… that’s it.

What the actual hell?

Meanwhile, my entire extended family is going to the mountains like we always do — parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — everyone together in cabins in the snow, celebrating the best holiday of the year. That’s Easter for me. That’s where I want to be. But no, instead I’ll be freezing in some remote village with my emotionally stunted father-in-law who barely speaks, in a place with no friends, no family, no plans, and no energy except snow and silence.

I’m honestly so angry I could scream.

And here’s the kicker — she didn’t even take the extra shifts for the money. She’s not struggling financially. She just "couldn’t say no." She felt bad for her colleagues. So she basically guilt-tripped herself into ruining our plans.

She asked us to come. She pushed for this. And now she’s too spineless to set boundaries at work?

So yeah — I’m pissed. I feel cheated. I feel like I’m sacrificing something I care deeply about so we can sit around and make small talk with someone who didn’t even prioritize the visit they asked for in the first place.

And no, I don’t care if this sounds petty. I’m tired of always having to be the one who “understands.” I get to be disappointed. I get to be upset that my child won’t get the Easter I dreamed of giving them. I get to be mad that we’re spending thousands to be ignored.

If it weren’t for the flights already being non-refundable, I’d cancel the whole damn trip and head to the mountains with my own family.

Tell me I’m not insane for feeling this way. Please.