Page 10 | Rubbish gift from MIL

MyBabyAteTheDingo · 2025-08-29T15:45:30+00:00

Son’s 19th birthday today, mil dropped his gift round. It’s a free Jesus audio CD that she receives from some Christian subscription. I'm fucking fuming on his behalf. He has no interest in religion. This from a woman who spends over £300 on a small tube of eye wrinkle cream so money’s not the issue here. They get on well so I’m just puzzled at this. I know it’s the thought that matters but this seems more like an insult. She’ll be calling later so any suggestions on how to respond to this?

Flamingoknees · 29/08/2025 18:30

I'd assume, with no similar history, that she's starting to become confused.

banananas1999 · 29/08/2025 18:30

WifeOfAGemini · 29/08/2025 16:57

Yabu That’s a hilarious gift!

For my 19th my gran bought me a polyester high-collared, ankle-length dressing gown in fuschia pink. Size 18 (I was then a 10). She thought it would be nice to have a new one to take to university!

Best present ever, I have never forgotten my gran’s wacky presents.

In fairness she didn’t have a lot of cash to spare and could only get to the local market so she was a bit limited.

I always thanked her profusely and gave her a huge hug. It’s the thought that counts!

Hilarious? Really?

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 29/08/2025 18:28

Given her past gifts were appropriate and quite expensive, I would honestly suspect cognitive decline here.

Pinkissmart · 29/08/2025 18:27

BigBirdOfPrey · 29/08/2025 16:51

Tread carefully.
listen to it to make sure it is what it appears to be.
thank her for the gift, ask her why she thinks DS would enjoy that.
then say I hope I don’t offend you but that really isn’t his style.

OR

Just say thank you and move on.

chunkybear · 29/08/2025 18:26

OMG that’s utterly shocking! I remember reading a thread on MN or on another similar website and their GIL always gave insane gifts and one was a diary … oh no, not just any diary, but one from years gone by … oh no not just one from years gone by, not that had been written in too!! 🤣 you can’t make it up!!
perhaps you need to put her in a home, she’s clearly de-lu-lu 😋

Moveoverdarlin · 29/08/2025 18:24

I would tell her straight. ‘Well we were left scratching our heads a bit Maureen to be honest. We haven’t had a CD Player in the house for 15 years, so he can’t play it. What with Jack starting Uni next month he’s in need of so many things. He’ll be moving house so needs everything from new towels to ink cartridges to new pants. Maybe stick with JD Sports vouchers in future. I’ll give you the CD back when I see you as it aligns with your values more than Jack’s. I hope it didn’t set you back a lot.

Hopefully after that she might chuck him £50 towards uni. What a thoughtless woman. This would enrage me.

mintydoggyv · 29/08/2025 18:24

24Dogcuddler · 29/08/2025 16:55

Does she have a history of giving unusual gifts? If not are you sure she’s OK?
An elderly aunt gave me a small ring box all wrapped up for my 21st. It contained 20p! She had Dementia though.

Well said

RaininSummer · 29/08/2025 18:21

I would assume she had developed dementia tbh.

hmmnotreallysure · 29/08/2025 18:18

Katflapkit · 29/08/2025 18:13

I would get your husband to say that although son appreciates the thought, he was a little too shy to say that he doesn't have a CD player (neither do we) and it's not his style, perhaps she can return it get him something to go to university or an Amazon voucher etc

I'd go with this actually. I don't think I could let that one go. Sorry your son got a crap present from his grandma, it always makes me feel sad when the dcs get shit unthoughtful gifts as we always go out of our way to put lots of thought in to gifts for others.

PiggingBastardPigs · 29/08/2025 18:17

When people say it’s the thought that matters, I think ‘Hell yeah, it really is’.

Merrymouse · 29/08/2025 18:15

MyBabyAteTheDingo · 29/08/2025 18:12

He just laughed and said wtf.

Show quote history

Think of it as the gift of a good anecdote in years to come?

TaffetaRustle · 29/08/2025 18:14

@Katflapkit what you said

TaffetaRustle · 29/08/2025 18:14

This is so random I would definitely ,but kindly mention. It

Say is this what she meant to give him ?
Is she extremely reglous ?

Id call her and say we don't have a cd player we just wanted to check this is the correct gift

Katflapkit · 29/08/2025 18:13

I would get your husband to say that although son appreciates the thought, he was a little too shy to say that he doesn't have a CD player (neither do we) and it's not his style, perhaps she can return it get him something to go to university or an Amazon voucher etc

SecondVerseSameAsThe1st · 29/08/2025 18:13

Livingthebestlife · 29/08/2025 17:02

Play it full blast when she arrives and keep saying how you all love it

I wouldn’t, unless you’re okay with being given a Jesus CD for every occasion. 🤣

Original poster

MyBabyAteTheDingo · 29/08/2025 18:12

thecatdidit · 29/08/2025 18:09

@MyBabyAteTheDingo what has your DH said about this unusual "gift" ?
I was coming on this thread to tell about the shite present my DD got from my mil for her 21st, but your son's CD cannot be beaten in terms of awfulness.

He just laughed and said wtf.

OP posts:

thecatdidit · 29/08/2025 18:09

@MyBabyAteTheDingo what has your DH said about this unusual "gift" ?
I was coming on this thread to tell about the shite present my DD got from my mil for her 21st, but your son's CD cannot be beaten in terms of awfulness.

Original poster

MyBabyAteTheDingo · 29/08/2025 18:09

FeliciaFancybottom · 29/08/2025 18:04

I would think at 19 your son should be the one to respond, you don't need to say or do any of the passive aggressive shit that's being suggested by other posters.

Yes, totally agree. It’s just she will be the one to bring it up later. And although I will just say thank you but he’s unable to play it, I kind of want to know her thinking behind it.

OP posts:

Topseyt123 · 29/08/2025 18:09

I wouldn't be inclined to thank her for such utter shite.

WhitePudding · 29/08/2025 18:09

Ahhh. Years and years ago on here, someone received elastic from their mil as a Christmas gift. No dementia.

mindutopia · 29/08/2025 18:09

This is a bonkers gift and hopefully he will find the humour in it. Honestly though, I wouldn’t make him speak to her to say thank you. He has politely messaged and has done his job.

However, this is presumably your dh’s mum, and I would have him deal with it. No way I’d be letting my mum get away with crap like this, nor would Dh be stepping in to deal with it on my behalf. This is your dh’s problem to manage.

Original poster

MyBabyAteTheDingo · 29/08/2025 18:05

BauhausOfEliott · 29/08/2025 17:50

What sort of gifts has she previously bought for him?

If this is way out of step with her usual gift-giving to him, and she's previously always got him things appropriate to a teenage/young adult boy, I would be inclined to think this was a deliberate dig at him.

I know you say they get on well... but it feels to me like the choice of a Christian CD in particular is maybe the significant thing here. Because I've certainly known evangelical Christians who, despite apparently getting on with people and caring about them, are still very keen to try and preach to them or persuade them to engage with their religion. I'm wondering if that's her issue - she's disappointed/concerned/judgemental over his lack of interest in religion or has some beef or other with something he does that she thinks is immoral, and has sent him a Christian CD for that reason.

Not that any of that would make it OK. It's shit behaviour on her part either way and I can see why he feels hurt. Like you say - it's not the money, it's the fact that she's got him something she must know he actually has no use for or interest in.

She bought him AirPods last year for his 18th. I know that’s an extravagant gift and wouldn’t expect something else like that, she has also gifted him JD sports vouchers in the past as he wears sports stuff.

She preaches all the time, and writes stuff in cards etc, that’s fine but it’s the lack of thought and his only gift from her was this bloody freebie cd. I’ve taken the comments on board and will rise above it and be thankful. It’s what Jesus would want I suppose 🥴

OP posts:

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 29/08/2025 18:05

DisabledDemon · 29/08/2025 18:03

Well, you certainly can get everything on Amazon, can't you!

Show quote history

I actually rather like that...

Dogaredabomb · 29/08/2025 18:05

I used to get used toiletries from one, very rich, relative. Even used soap 🤢 it was always wrapped.

Whenindoubthugitout · 29/08/2025 18:05

My husband has young onset Alzheimer’s
the first symptom was really flipping crap and weird presents!!!
he wenr from buying really amazing and lovely thoughtful presents - think diamond necklaces. To - one year - two Aldi bath bombs placed in a food recycling bag.
I was so angry and so so so hurt.

6 months later - he was diagnosed.
it’s was his executive function that had gone.
deciding a present - and then executing the task to get it and deliver it is actually really very complex.

im not saying she is the same,
i am just telling you - I could have flipping killed him that day.