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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is the worst set of birthday presents ever

59 replies

bna · 15/01/2011 22:16

Its my brothers 21st today and he got

Mum: Calender (he's already got one)

Dad: Air freshener (thought it would be useful for his new flat Hmm )

Sister: An acre of the Moon (wtf?)

Sister: Male concealer (he has never make up in his life)

Uncle and Aunt: Socks

Uncle and Aunt: Recipe Book

Me: Aftershave and a couple of tickets for his football team

AIBU to think my family really should have put more effort/thought into his presents

OP posts:
loolooskiptotheloo · 15/01/2011 22:37

oops sorry for double post - so was he surprised (disappointed) with an air freshener and a calender?!

BonzoDooDah · 15/01/2011 22:38

aww poor sod - that really is a big bunch of shite. Not a sodding cheque, watch, silver tankard or anything he'd want to keep for a week never mind even a few years to remind him of the day.
You spoken to him about it? What did he say?

sparkle12mar08 · 15/01/2011 22:39

The moon thing is dire, really, really pathetic. It's stupid, she may as well have literally posted the notes down the sewer. It's a worthless piece of paper. Given that she's probably ordered it from the internet, she couldn't be bothered to do a simple ten second search which would show her that it's legally impossible to own part of the moon?

WhatsWrongWithYou · 15/01/2011 22:40

Well, I hope he has good friends and a fun life to make up for his rubbish family (apart from you, OP).

He sounds like a much nicer person than me - I'm not hugely into presents and got some pretty lousy ones for my 21st (hand towel, anyone?), but I'd have sneered something sarcastic and gone off and cried at being given air freshener.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 15/01/2011 22:42

Hqve they always been like this, OP? What on earth made them think they'd done well?

hatwoman · 15/01/2011 22:42

I was all ready to say something about lack of gratitude etc. but basically you're right. I think the recipe book from aunt and uncle is fair enough - I wouldn't expect anything bigger nor necessarily better suited. your present sounds ok too (assuming it wasn't 2.99 aftershave from Asda); also, maybe your sister is mad enough to think an acre of the moon is really special Confused but your mum and dad?? nuts.nearly as good as the mn mil who gave knocker elastic for christmas.

dittany · 15/01/2011 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

simonedeboudoir · 15/01/2011 22:46

Ah I see. But now even more Shock that your family 'thought they'd done well'

Your poor brother Sad

Original poster
bna · 15/01/2011 22:48

My parents have never been good, most birthday presents they've bought have been complete tat.

My sister who bought him the concealer probably thought it was cool and trendy whilst the one who bought the acre of the moon is normally really good.

OP posts:
dittany · 15/01/2011 22:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bna · 15/01/2011 22:53

They're not selfish, they're just quite detached and they make you wonder whether you live on the same planet at times. Although they have taken it to a new level with this.

OP posts:
JeezyPeeps · 15/01/2011 23:01

"nuts.nearly as good as the mn mil who gave knocker elastic for christmas."

Knocker elastic... for extra bounce???

To the poster that said she gets jewellery but never wears it - they probably have noticed - and thats why they are buying you it... ;)

iwerta · 15/01/2011 23:11

Good grief they are shocking. To be honest I'd be really upset if it had been me. An air freshner as a 21st birthday present from his father that is FUBAR

hatwoman · 15/01/2011 23:13

pmsl at my typo. marvellous

charliesmommy · 15/01/2011 23:16

I am not sure how any normal sane person could think that giving someone a calendar for their 21st was a decent present. We get a bottle of wine AND a calendar off our local chinese takeaway every year...

tyler80 · 15/01/2011 23:21

I know it's probably not the majority opinion, but some people don't actually believe that 21st birthdays are any more special than the rest.

Like I said, I was perfectly happy with my giant Toblerone. Grin I'd have been upset if one of my flatmates had come online and posted "Am i being unreasonable to think my flatmates parents are shit because she only got a toblerone for her 21st"

ascouser · 15/01/2011 23:28

That's a pants pile of presents (apart from OP's)
Shame he's an adult..i'd have put myself up for adoption after getting that load of s**t from the people who 'created' me

Original poster
bna · 15/01/2011 23:33

I'm going to meet him tomorrow afternoon and I think I'll get a more honest opinion of his presents with their buyers out of earshot. I'll have a look at this concealer and see if I could use it and I'll buy it off him if I can so at least he'll get its monetary value.

OP posts:
mumeeee · 15/01/2011 23:34

What you gave him was fine. But the presents from other people were rubbush 21st Birthday presents. dd2 was 21 on 9th Decmber DH and I gace her a camera ( which she asked for ) A photograph album a 21st teddy bear and a couple of other bits and pieces.of her life from 0 t0 21. I made that up for her,

FaffTastic · 15/01/2011 23:40

Christ, if I received a calander and air freshner for my 21st from my parents I'd probably still mention bitch about it now, more than a decade later, after a few glasses --bottles- of wine, in a very bitter manner.

MsKLo · 15/01/2011 23:46

What did YOU get him?!

Original poster
bna · 15/01/2011 23:55

I bought him aftershave a two tickets for Tottenham vs Arsenal

OP posts:
GreenEyesandHam · 15/01/2011 23:57

He might get revenge when his when mum and dad are in their dotage, and he waves them off into the shittiest nursing home....

'Byyeeeeee! See you in 12 months. Do you have a calendar? Did you bring your air freshener? Smells like you may be needing it, byyyeeeeee'

ChippingIn · 16/01/2011 00:01

MsKLo - if you reigned in your indignation you'd see it was in the OP.

ChippingIn · 16/01/2011 00:02

bna

That is crap - that's worse than nothing at all tbh. At least he has one lovely sister, poor lad.

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