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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to ask my MIL what the hell she was thinking?

54 replies

Tee2072 · 23/03/2011 15:07

Let me preface by saying I would never actually ask her and that she is a lovely MIL and I have none of the prevalent MIL issues seen on MN.

However, I would like to call and ask her where her brain was when she was choosing birthday presents for myself and my husband this year.

For mine it was a voucher to a local store that sells nothing but expensive, breakable china/glassware/things like that. I have a toddler. All of my pretty stuff is stored away for the foreseeable future. She well knows this. Usually I get a voucher for clothes. That I could use this year as I've lost nearly 2 stone!

My husband? He got a dressing gown. He has a perfectly fine dressing gown. Which she also knows as she comes to visit quite often to see the aforementioned toddler.

It is not that I am not grateful for her thoughtfulness. I am. She doesn't have to remember our birthdays at all.

But what the hell was she thinking?!?!

OP posts:
GeekCool · 23/03/2011 15:11

You're not ungrateful? Really?

UnfortunateUsername · 23/03/2011 15:11

My brother bought me a keg of beer for my birthday...

  1. I'm breastfeeding so unlikely to be having any heavy drinking sessions
  1. I rarely drink
  1. When I do drink I don't drink beer

Each of those things he's aware of, but somehow still figured that a keg was an appropriate gift!

MadreInglese · 23/03/2011 15:12

YABU and ungrateful

wonkeydonkies · 23/03/2011 15:17

jeez, talk about ungrateful and miserable

LindyHemming · 23/03/2011 15:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Tee2072 · 23/03/2011 15:23

LOL

I did bet with myself when the first 'you're ungrateful' post would appear but I didn't think it would be first!!

Isn't it sad when a mostly light hearted, mean no harm post, gets started in such a way? What a typical MN response.

I was hoping for some originality in responses or, like UnfortunateUsername posted, stories of other inappropriate presents.

I should remember how little sense of humour people posting on AIBU have.

OP posts:
GeekCool · 23/03/2011 15:24

LoL. I'm new here, so not sure I'm 'typical MN'. It's called an opinion. :o

toosoft · 23/03/2011 15:27

In laws, bless them!

cantspel · 23/03/2011 15:27

She was thinking it would be nice for you to choose something lovely for your home.
She was thinking it would be nice for your oh to have a nice new dressing gown to keep him warm.

BTW my mil bought me a dressing gown every christmas from the year i met my oh to the year she died. For some reason people think dressing gowns are an ideal gift.

MadreInglese · 23/03/2011 15:27

actually I'm quite content with my sense of humour Grin but fail to see anything funny or lighthearted in your OP really

(and you seriously have all your breakables stored away?)

Original poster
Tee2072 · 23/03/2011 15:27

Well, you'll fit right in GeekCool!!

Exactly toosoft!

OP posts:
DurhamDurham · 23/03/2011 15:28

If you didn't want to people to comment on the fact that you sound a bit U you should have posted this in 'chat'....then it would have been a chat about unsuitable presents.

BTW bad idea to put everything away when you have a toddler, they need to learn not to touch them or they cause chaos when they visit other people in their homes.

Greenshadow · 23/03/2011 15:29

OP is not ungrateful - she is just wondering why MIL didn't think a little more.

Deciduousblonde · 23/03/2011 15:30

My own parents bought me not just one bottle of wine..but a whole case...for Christmas. I was 4 months pregnant at the time, and I will be breastfeeding very soon.

Oh well, I guess it will keep :)

AmazingBouncingFerret · 23/03/2011 15:32

Maybe she was unsure to give you clothing vouchers this time around because you have lost weight and she may well think you wont be buying anything until you have reached your target weight. Or maybe she's noticed a distinct lack of pretty glassware about and thought you might need some!

Original poster
Tee2072 · 23/03/2011 15:32

Interesting idea Durham Durham. But I am not spending my days chasing after him in his own house shouting no. He gets enough of that with all the electronic equipment around here without risking my circa 2 BCE perfume bottle.

I don't mind following him around at someone else's home. I don't expect anyone to baby proof for my son. But this is his house. And I'll make it as safe for him and the stuff I am talking about as I can.

But thanks for your input. I'll take it on board and consider it.

OP posts:
GeekCool · 23/03/2011 15:33

Confused. So where do you fit in the Tee2072? If I have one opinion does that mean I must agree with every other MN consensus?
Someone explain the rules, please! :o

TryLikingClarity · 23/03/2011 15:36

Congrats Tee on losing so much weight! I haven't seen you since before Christmas, I thought you were looking lovely then too.

As for the MIL issue, my MIL also buys random gifts....

Best just to smile and say thanks.

Original poster
Tee2072 · 23/03/2011 15:36

I'm the rebel. Grin

Ans yes, you must join the hive mind of MN. You're well on your way, congratulations!!!

OP posts:
Desperateforthinnerthighs · 23/03/2011 15:36

YANBU - you are merely expressing an opinion in a very nice way!!

My SIL once got me a door stop that looked like a turd!!! I prob was ungrateful and unreasonable but it was bloody horrid, lol

DurhamDurham · 23/03/2011 15:40

Amazing you're right....the mil got Tee2072 a voucher for glassware because she thought she had none as it has all been hidden away!! Grin

It's only on this board that you'll be given a hard time. I've never been brave/daft enough to start an AIBU thread because without a doubt everyone will think you are being V V U!! Go to 'chat', we all revert back to being nice friendly people there Smile

mousesma · 23/03/2011 15:41

YABU the correct response when you get a present is to say "yes thats lovely, thank you". It is never appropriate to call the gift giver and ask them where their brain was.

As an aside toddlers turn into boisterous children who turn into clumsy teens. Unless you want to wait until they leave home before you have "nice" stuff out theres no point in hiding it away.

mousesma · 23/03/2011 15:44

I'm not being unfriendly to say YABU but if you are not prepared to have people disagree than you shouldn't post here. This board is supposed to be to problems where you need an honest third party view.

Deciduousblonde · 23/03/2011 15:44

I'm pretty sure that is exactly what the OP did, mousesma. I very much doubt she is going to call her MIL Grin

A teacosy. A handknitted teacosy is what I received from my MIL one year. I didn't even own a fecking teapot...

Original poster
Tee2072 · 23/03/2011 15:44

I believe I started the thread by saying I would never actually ask her. Good reading comprehension there, mousesma. I wrote her a lovely thank you note and told her thank you on the phone as well as sent her a picture of what I bought.

And I am indeed planning on keeping most of it away until he leaves home.

And I know that Durham, I was sort of hoping for a bunfight, just a creative one, not the same old same old.

OP posts:
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