Cheap chocolate and presents from MIL

Shame your children have inherited your toxic trait of ungratefulness.
Sometimes you have to push your own feelings aside so as not to hurt someone’s feelings.

Just thank them and donate to the charity shop, eggs to the food bank. It’s not rocket science.

How does your dh feel about your DC’s lack of respect for gifts?

My DD has been able to tell the difference between different chocolate since she was tiny! She had never liked white chocolate, smarties, mars, etc. Why do you think kids have no taste buds or preferences? Lots of kids like some chocolate items and not others. A Lindt bunny tastes completely different to Cadburys. I don’t know why you’d think children can’t tell the difference!

It is absolutely not all the same though and we all know it really. My ds got a hey Duggee egg when he was 3 from some random brand, he had a bit but didn't like it, me and DH tried it and agreed it wasn't very nice. Neither of us are exactly sophisticated with our pallets either, we'll happily eat plenty of standard chocolate that loads on here frequently lament is "inedible" 🤣

With the toys, I think it's a really mixed bag, some are fine but if you've had bad experiences with ones breaking easily or not working properly it's disappointing for the kids and makes the parents reluctant to get more.

@nottheplan I know what you mean. You can get a Cadbury egg for under a fiver and put any amount on a voucher or whatever, it doesn't have to be a big expensive gesture. My mil is loaded and eats out literally every day, but buys awful cheap cakes that genuinely taste like cardboard for when she sees us. I've had to tell her to stop buying DS clothes because he's autistic and really fussy with fabrics, she'd constantly buy him stuff that was rough or had the emblems on that you could feel underneath. She'd mention getting him clothes and I'd say oh thanks, just some Asda joggers or something would be fine and then she'd get him jeans (which he never wears) from Primark or whatever, that I'd have to return so it's just another job!

So you are talking about Lidl chocolate? There is absolutely nothing wrong with Lidl chocolate you are sounding like a complete snob.

Especially when your idea of good stuff is Cadbury's. Makes you look like a would-be snob who doesn't actually know what quality is.

Yes I’ve had some great toys from that deal every year. £20 isn’t cheap

Aldi choclate egg with the space dust in is amazing

I never liked the actual Easter eggs as a child and couldn’t eat them — even the better brands all used to make the eggs out of a nastier chocolate (same with chocolate advent calendars). I don’t think most adults even noticed as Easter eggs for adults weren’t really a thing then. To be honest, I think many brands still do that with Easter eggs - the chocolate items that come with them eg maltesers, buttons etc. will be their usual chocolate, but the moulded egg itself is less good quality stuff.

I’m with you that Lidl chocolate is not worth eating, OP, though I also think the same about Cadbury’s! And toys that are just landfill waiting to happen, don’t provide entertainment for the kids because they break as soon as they’re used, etc. are annoying and feel so wasteful.

You could see if your DH suggesting books/voucher/something different makes any difference. But I suspect the answer is to just keep smiling and nodding and chucking the stuff away when they’ve left.

I bought my own DS a couple of the B&M 2 for £20 construction toys a couple of years ago similar to technic lego&maccanno and they were actually really good and he enjoyed building them we thought they were great value for the money. Having known how much my own ds enjoyed them I wouldn't hesitate to buy some for a child. And tbh even expensive toys get cast aside after 5 minutes. yabu

A bar of expensive chocolate wouldn't be as attractive to a child as something more visually appealing
Most children aren't aware of the difference between "good" chocolate (which tends to be marketed towards adults anyway) and cheapo stuff. They don't sit and ponder the taste, they just taste chocolate, and are often more interested in the fact it's in the shape of a rabbit or egg, or is decorated with smarties etc.
The same applies to ice cream.

Hotel Chocolat is the minimum standard for my precious little ones too.

Cadburys? Awful stuff and full of palm oil.

Lidl's own brand is far better.

But there are plenty of nice little things that you could get for £5 each — half the price of a 2 for £20 deal! Or just give them a £5 note each!

Kids also don’t need presents for Easter anyway. Just a small chocolate item is fine.

Maybe you can say the kids need more books or something to give them a steer away from toys.

Maybe the half eaten chocolate is headed for the bin but you can donate the toys once they have been opened.

I'm amazed the 2 for £20 b and m toys break after 5 minutes every time your inlaws buy them... not sure what your kids are doing to them. We have had many toys from there over the years and never have any broken. And they have been played with lots and passed on to friends and family

Let your kids enjoy them for as long as they want and then donate them to charity (as long as your kids havent broken them)

As for the chocolate, you now know your kids dont like that brand...remind them of that before they open it. Then either do some baking with it or give it to the food bank

You would be unreasonable to complain to your inlaws and very ungrateful and snobby sounding.

My kids loved a 2 for 20 quid b&m toy from their grandparents but yes they did break quickly and easily.
My strategy was to politely and apologetically give the toys back when they broke and ask grandparents to take them back to the shop for a replacement or refund. Every time.
Eventually they realised how poor quality they were and began to ask for suggestions for other things they might like and we could steer them towards days out etc.

OP is judgy… or had a common upbringing and just can’t taste things that are really more refined. Poor thing

Lidl pretzel chocolate is lovely. Quite expensive too!

I can't believe the OP has cited cadburys or nestle as more acceptable chocolate 😂 I'd take own brand over those brands any day of the week, it is almost certainly going to be better.

Edit: just seen it's Lidl chocolate you're complaining about. FFS.

As for the toys, I don't understand why your kids are breaking them and discarding them within minutes. I don't think we've ever had that experience.

Talking about own brand chocolate. My late fil bought us Lidl own brand white chocolate several years ago that was so cheap and a massive slab. We all thought it would go in bin but it’s the most beautiful white chocolate and also comes in a white version with strawberry. I’d have never tried it as I don’t buy large cakes of choc but it was a wonderful surprise. So give it a go with an open mind as you might discover something lovely

Give them to charity if they’re not good enough for your own children . I’m sure there will be plenty of children who will appreciate them

Absolutely use the chocolate for rice crispy cakes and donate the toys to a charity shop if you must. I've not met children so discerning they refuse supermarket chocolate or don't like toys that are from B&M but if yours are that way so be it.

I read threads like this with such sadness and hope to to god my own son doesn't end up with a woman who treats his family with such contempt as is being shown here. If their worst crime is buying cheap Easter eggs could you not consider embracing them and welcoming their gifts as an expression of their love for your DC? I have the impression from your posts that you see the gifts as an insult and I really don't think that will be the intention.

@Topsyturvy78So they should be greatful for any old shit that breaks quickly because their poor?”

No. But I would be amazed if a £10 toy from a reputable shop is as instantly breakable and shit as the OP is pretending.

I do too. I really love the own brand supermarket ones and even the savers range, they’re creamier somehow