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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Did my parents buy too much for DC?

109 replies

Christmasgrumpster · 25/12/2024 19:39

My parents had quite a hard upbringing without much but now have enough money to treat DGC. They bought my DS:

a nice fleece jumper
Small play set cost approx £20
Large floor jigsaw
Coat (showed to me first to check it was ok and needed, it is)
Bike helmet (we asked for and need)
Little pets hamster in ball
3 L/s tops

all clothes M&S just to gauge pricing

DH’s mum bought DS a lovely hoodie and trousers (expensive brand like Jojo maman Bebe) and a lovely special book with activity attached.

DH had a rant at me that my parents buy too much and ruin the specialness of Christmas. I had a lovely day but feel so deflated now 😞). Fwiw, DS is 3 and not really arsed who bought him what. I’m not bothered which grandparents buy more and very grateful for the beautiful gifts his parents chose.

fwiw DH’s parents have double the number of DGC that mine have to buy for so that may affect things.

YABU - that’s far too many gifts from a grandparent and they should be spoken to and told to buy less

YANBU - let them go for it, it’s lovely to be spoiled by grandparents.

OP posts:
BIossomtoes · 25/12/2024 19:45

That’s about what we’d buy if we only had one. Clothes don’t count.

modgepodge · 25/12/2024 19:45

My in laws are significantly more generous than my own parents (to be honest, they often spend more than we do!). It’s just the way it goes. Neither me nor my partner would ever complain!

stillavid · 25/12/2024 19:45

Golly your DH sounds a delight!

steff13 · 25/12/2024 19:44

It doesn't sound like too much to me. I think the "specialness of Christmas" would only be ruined if you bought your kids tons of stuff throughout the year. The gifts from Christmas would be sort of "meh " if you got whatever you wanted all the time.

Moriquendi · 25/12/2024 19:43

At 3 I doubt that clothes really register as presents. So that halves the amount of presents. And it’s your parents money, if that are happy then that is lovely and your DH should be grateful!

FlickFlackTrap · 25/12/2024 19:42

I think your ‘D’H is being a bit of a dick.
Your parents sound lovely and have bought things that will be useful and are needed as well.

BirthdeighParteigh · 25/12/2024 19:42

I think it’s too much and devalues the other gifts by overwhelming the child. Two presents would be just fine. And, if they want to spoil him, a single big impact gift would be so much more memorable.

TheGoogleMum · 25/12/2024 19:41

My in laws buy more for DC than mine. I think what mine get is the appropriate amount. I reckon in laws go a bit OTT to be honest, but our children are their only GC and I get why they'd want to make a fuss of them

Sirzy · 25/12/2024 19:40

Doesn’t sound close to excessive to me!

but even if it was it is their money to spend how they wish!