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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To open MIL's hideous presents early so I can exchange them?!

252 replies

MsKalo · 17/12/2010 08:18

MIL buys my DD the most hideous looking granny type dresses - I have opened that part of the pressie so I can take it and exhabge it for some of the nicer dresses this high street chain does - I need to do it now before they go down in price after Xmas!

I mean, it is quite obvious how I dress my DD but she still buys her the most awful dresses! Yuk?

AIBU?

OP posts:
MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:06

She mentioned how a couple of the dresses looked which is why I opened them early...

Yes, probably not very nice but I am glad I exchanged the two offending ones!

FunkySnowSkeleton · 19/12/2010 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

diddl · 19/12/2010 10:08

Me too!

I can´t see anything that I find hideous in the dresses on the Next website.

TBH I´d faint if MIL got anything from Next.

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:08

Funky, if she would give me a gift receipt I could wait to th sales! And she always buys things that are too small an I have told her the size she needs

Oh well

gorionine · 19/12/2010 10:08

Why not tell MIL in advance what you would like her to get your DD? it would save her a lot of time actually looking for something you will exchange anyway?

diddl · 19/12/2010 10:10

I agree that it is better to exchange than waste-I thing most people here would.

But maybe the dresses aren´t as bad as OP is making out?

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 19/12/2010 10:10

The dresses aside, MIL's who try to inflict opinions are why we have two ears. One for words in, one for out, plus a smile at the same time. It makes for harmony for the next 18 years.

FunkySnowSkeleton · 19/12/2010 10:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

diddl · 19/12/2010 10:14

No, but it´s possible to compromise when a present has been bought.

Especially as it´s not for the OP.

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:15

Thank you funky and thank you wynken for making me smile...

How did you come up with 18 years though?! I have already known her for over 12 years...

ChippingIn · 19/12/2010 10:16

You clearly don't think you are being unreasonable.

You clearly don't want to be told you are unreasonable.

So why post in Am I being UNREASONABLE - post in chat if you just want to whinge!

FWIW - I don't think you are being unreasonable changing the dresses if you don't like them, because if you don't like them you wont put DD in them and it's a waste of money, but I think you are being very unreasonable in your attitude on here.

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:17

Sorry diddl! We are gonna have to agree to disagree! When DD is old enough she can decide - although I may have to draw the line if she wants a shell
Tracksuit... Or if she wants a tangoe tan...

;-)

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:20

Chipping - I do think I am a bit unreasonable for opening them early, not for exhanging them though

I don't mind if people disagree with me not at all, but when someone attacks me for it, I get arsey, I think wr all would or most people would anyway...

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 19/12/2010 10:22

Well from when first child born to when they leave home as it's when children enter the equation when it really starts. Make it longer if you have two I guess, first number that came into my head. My MIL died a couple of years ago which is sad as whilst bravely fighting cancer she was looking back on the mistakes she had made in her life and at one point thought she was going to have a chance to put them right but sadly never did. This is the woman who bough her son a pack of Spanish underpants for his 30th bitlrthday so your MIL could be worse, at least 3 of the 5 dresses were OK.

ChippingIn · 19/12/2010 10:30

It's a baby's present - why would you feel unreasonable for opening them early if you suspect that they are not going to be to your liking and it's better to exchange them before they go in the sale?

I think the suggestion of taking them back, getting the credit put onto a store card then buying more in the sale is a good one!

MotherOfSuburbia · 19/12/2010 10:31

I don't think you are being unreasonable for exchanging them - they might as well not go to waste and if it's done with tact your MIL would never know.

However, I do think it's unreasonable to think it was rude of your MiL to buy them - a gift of 5 dresses is pretty impressive and should be received with gratitude I think. I know there seems to be other stuff at play in the relationship but as an isolated incident I would say, receive the dresses, be grateful, swap the ones you won't use for something more useful without making a big deal about it.

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:32

Yes wynken, coulda been worse x

supernoodlesrock · 19/12/2010 10:33

Chippingin - agree that's a great idea.

Diddl - well it is strictly true as is the op who dresses her dd and who doesn't like the dresses, hence they won't get worn.

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:34

Mother - yes there are other issues that I have written about earlier in thread

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 10:35

Tia what i did! They on a store card!

heartspain · 19/12/2010 11:01

The OP is MsKalo.

Is MsKLo someone different?

Xmas Confused
pommedeterre · 19/12/2010 11:04

I see your dresses and raise you brown flared cords and baggy grey sweatpants from MIL on last visit.
Baby normally dressed in pinks, purples and lots of dresses.

MsKLo · 19/12/2010 11:10

Mskalo is my evil twin ;-)

diddl · 19/12/2010 11:48

Oh, just seen that there were 5 dresses & three were OK!

That´s not bad.

I´m just pissed off & projecting because MIL has never bought daughter anything as she just had one son & therefore has no idea what to buy girlsHmm

maryz · 19/12/2010 12:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.