Cheap chocolate and presents from MIL

I have the exact same thing with my in laws!

The last couple of times they’ve bought something my child has asked for but decided that she would literally fill a bag with things that she would think he would like. She’s bought him things that is more his younger brothers age/interest. My DH is going to speak to them this year. Our house is honestly going to explode with the amount of toys we have and he’s very much into certain things. He’s also got into picking his own clothes now and quite often he won’t wear what she picks. I think he’s going to say to get something off his list then either top it up with money/vouchers so he can pick his own things (rather than just stuff)

it’s a shame because it doesn’t get opened and then he asks if we can donate/sell it so he can top up his piggy bank and I feel really sad that she’s wasted money on things they don’t want

Wow

I CBA

Nothing worse than an ungrateful and controlling receiver or snob. In my opinion you don’t deserve the effort or money spent. Some people don’t have in-laws or parents to make the effort. You should be teaching your children to show gratitude for whatever they receive.

and Lidl Bunnies are amazing, I buy them for myself. It’s just brand snobbery.

Well it would help me.

If I needed to buy a toy, then going to a shop that sells toys seems quite logical to me too.

That makes no sense.
An explanation would help solve the mystery of why you think in this strange way.

If you don’t understand this, an explanation won’t help.

Why is it lazy!? They are going out and buying toys from a shop that sells toys..

I mean I think you are being very ungrateful and unreasonable. What age are your kids? maybe my 2 and 4 year old are just a bit lowbrow but they love any chocolate and plastic tat! But if you really really don’t want any more of the toys an alternative would be to say you’re cutting back on toys and if they really want to give something a smyths voucher for £10/20 would be very much appreciated as you are saving all your vouchers to buy garden toys for the summer.

Re the chocolate u and yr children don’t like- have u tried melting it down with a couple of squares of decent dark chocolate? i think they would like it.

Your in-laws are tight, and it’s unlikely that you are going to change them. The issue is how much it upsets you. You just have to rise above it because tight people are mean and they thrive on spending as little as possible.

So either bin/recycle/charity shop their tat or start asking for contributions towards your children’s main present. Try asking if they would like to contribute a tenner rather than go to the time and expense of going shopping.

Absolutely. So mean and controlling of you. I bet the children wouldn’t notice the difference if you didn’t point it out and compare to your parents superior gifts. Just mean and horrible attitude to teach your children.

Which own brand chocolate are your kids rejecting? Mine will eat anything with sugar in...like they've never had sugar before. Also Lidl chocolate is actually really quite nice. I think you are bring quite snobby. Have you got one of those pretentious playrooms full of only wooden toys?

Your attitude is awful. I really feel for your in laws.

YABU. That would be hurtful.

Your poor MIL. I feel really sorry for her. You sound incredibly grabby.

I encourage vouchers. A specific shop or the cinema : or credit for whatever gaming thing they’re into

PS - unlike some other posters, I don’t think you’re being ungrateful all. I’ve had years of awful, utter shite B&M/Home Bargain Christmas gifts from one member of extended family. It’s lazy and thoughtless.

I have experienced this. In the end, it’s best to accept their crap gifts with a gracious thank you then bin them when they break, replace the cheap nasty chocolate with decent stuff etc. it’s not worth the hassle of confronting them. Believe me - been there , done it.

It’s exactly this. In my case, IL’s knew dc didn’t like the particular chocolate they kept buying as gifts. Why would you keep buying the same chocolate knowing your gc don’t like it. It’s not just thoughtless, it’s mean and vindictive. It’s just horrible.

I agree it’s not the chocolate or the gifts but more the lack of thought/knowing the tastes of their GC is the issue. My eldest dd has eating issues and isn’t much of a fan of any Easter eggs but likes certain small boxes of chocolate (ironically she likes Lidl) or a small bag of jelly sweets. My DM still buys her a generic Cadbury egg. Youngest has allergies I always make sure there’s lots of options they can get if they want but not the allergy ones. Yep still a high chance that’s what comes. I always have a stock of back ups for both. Then give out or bake with the others.

@nottheplan no, I’ve never bought anyone Lidl chocolate as a gift, or a cheap plastic toy…but I don’t think it’s particularly significant either or a hallmark of not being cared about/your dc not being cared about and I’m sorry for you that you do.

I really didn’t. Maybe you should read my post again. Read the words, not between the lines.

‘They are definitely not poor’. I hate that attitude so much. Just because someone has money, doesn’t mean they have to indulge in high end items. There’s a reason they have ‘wealth’ however you define it - it’s because they don’t spend hundreds on stuff and B&M and Lidl are perfectly acceptable. It would be different if you said ‘MIL buys SILs kids Lego and mine B&M tat’.

Because they probably DID put thought into it, and they are probably pleased with the toys they have chosen for your children. It’s highly unlikely they picked up the first thing they saw and thought “I’ll just give them any old rubbish”. They don’t HAVE to give your children presents for Easter and spending £20 certainly isn’t nothing, I wouldn’t spend that much without giving it any thought.
If you can’t stand to have toys from B&M in your house, give them to charity. Instead you chose to start a nasty thread about them online.

Also how many wooden toys are out there? I know my kids had wooden toys and to be honest they didn't play with them. They liked the other stuff! And books etc.