to be really pissed off with MIL

[Sandbrook]

MILs 7th birthday this week. Of late she was speaking of never getting a chance to go away/hotel break etc etc.
So DH and I gave her a voucher for a nights stay in a 4 star hotel about 45 mins from home bearing in mind she's not a great traveller.
Just off the phone to SIL who's told me MIL has given the voucher to her other son and wife to treat them. Unsure whether she regifted letting them believe she paid for it or not. But still I'm fucking annoyed as if she didn't want the voucher I would have happily taken it back and used it as a much needed break for DH and I.

[FenellaFellorick]

Perhaps tell yourself that you gave a gift and once given its up to the recipient what they do with it and that ultimately her gift was the pleasure she got from giving?

Don't get me wrong, I'd be doing some serious teeth grinding but in the end that's what I'd tell myself because the alternative is to be pissed off and that only makes you feel bad.

[cuntycowfacemonkey]

Yeah that would piss me off tbh

[NerrSnerr]

I'd be tempted to mention it every time you see her, asking if she's booked it, telling her local things to do etc. That's because I'm a bit of a bitch though.

[Topseyt]

I'd be annoyed too, but is your MIL really only 7? Seems slightly young to me.

[chairmeoh]

Are you sure it's the same voucher? Maybe she got the other son a voucher so they could all go together? (Clutches at straws)

[mindthegap79]

If she's only 7, I think you need to let her off

If she's actually a bit older though I'd be feckin' annoyed and would probably be unable to resist being a bit snappy, or sarky, or both about it. But I can be a bit immature when I'm cross. Previous posters are right - it's hers to do what she wants with. Grrr though.

[chippednailvarnish]

Next birthday buy her a pair of secondhand tan tights, like to see her re-gift them! YANBU

[Janethegirl]

I'd get her a pot pourri next birthday as she's an idiot. Why get something nice for someone who does not appreciate it!

[Sandbrook]

Liking the ideas, thanks!
I know I know, it's hers to do with as she wants but it still gets on my wick.
It is Def the same voucher, SIL was witness to the handover.

Sorry she's 70
I feel like the 7 year old having a tantrum because the recipient didn't use my voucher the way I intended

[Fluffcake]

Think your dh needs to have a word with her. Seems very ungrateful to pass gift on (if that is the case). If she didn't want it, she should have offered it back to you first.

[Fluffcake]

X posts op. Didn't sil say anything at the time? Long lines of sandbrook will be really disappointed that you are not going yourself.
Also, if bil knew it was a gift from you to mil, he shouldn't have accepted it.

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

yabu. You gave her a gift. She didn't want to use it, she gave it to someone else. I bet you've done the same before.
You had no right to have it back from her, once you gave it thats the end of your involvement.

[Whatamuckingfuddle]

Yanbu, really hurtful and poor form. I have no advice, sorry

[ememem84]

I'd ask her whether she's booked it yet. And agree re giving advice about things to do in the area. but sometimes I can be a cow

[thinkfast]

What nerrsnerr said

[MrsGentlyBenevolent]

I don't think yabu. It's quite hurtful, rude if she has pretended she paid for it when 'regifting', and if she honestly didn't want it she could have given it back. It's one thing never using a gift, quite another to blatantly give it away!

It will inevitably come up again, I'd just be straight about it. Say 'sorry mil, we thought you'd like a break! We'll run gifts past you in future, make sure it's within your ballpark '. Poliite, but also lets her know that 'regifting' gets back to you.

[cerealqueen]

Was it for her to go away on her own? Maybe she didn't want to be on her own?

Still rude though.

Tell her 'guess what, we can come away with you' and see what she says.

[BeCool]

I would be upset too.

Next time give her chocolates and then eat them all in front of her nor tequila. Yes give her tequila.

Or the nude tights

Can'

[Sandbrook]

No Fluffcake, SIL was not 100% until she asked me where the hotel was. So was only confirmed afterward.

Winter, I really get that if it was a smaller gift but £200 later I cannot be that magnanimous

[MadameJulienBaptiste]

Tbh I wouldn't want a one night stay in a hotel just a short hop away.
what's the point of it unless you need to stay over for a wedding etc
2 night stay somewhere a bit further away, great. but just one night? And did you give her any choice in where it was? You don't mention a fil. If there isn't one then does she want to go away for one night on her own. Perhaps she Hanker after coming on a break with you and gcs, not to be sent away on her own.

[drudgetrudy]

I think it was really thoughtless to take a gift from one child and re-gift it to the other.

When you give a gift you do relinquish control over it but I do think her actions were hurtful. YANBU
I wouldn't make an issue of it but I wouldn't go to trouble over gifts for her again.

[Sandbrook]

Thanks Madame, it was something she had told us she longed for with or without FIL.
A friend of hers had stayed at this spa last year and she expressed interest in it.
Your post has got me thinking though, I should not just assume.
I still think though she could have told us she didn't want it and offer it back

[Fatmomma99]

What NerrSnerr said, and I like Whatamucking's "bad form". Spot on!

However, I had a v controlling father who thought he had rights over gifts given. He hadn't, and I'm afraid nor have you.

That doesn't mean it's not galling, and doesn't mean you should rush to be so generous again.

And the assertive thing to do would be to mention it, and say how disappointed you are that she didn't like the gift enough to use it. But also REALLY like NerrSnerr's idea (cos I'm a biatch too)!!! I'd ask to see photos!