too want to scream "aargh - don't ask if you're not going to listen" at my mother!

[hermioneweasley]

Firstly i don't ask for or expect presents for my kids, but my mother has been asking for months now what to get DS for his birthday. so I set up a wish list with a range of things of all different prices on and send her the link saying "here you go, choose what you want to get from this. X would be his favourite"

she comes back with another link saying "how about this then" (more money, so she's not asking if she can get something cheaper). No, mother, no. I have given you half a dozen suggestions and he already has something similar, and if a 5 year old loves pteradactyls then a triceratops is not a subsitute.

she does this every flippin' time - hounds me for suggestions and then bloody ignores them - gets something she thinks is similar but is fundamentally different if you're a kid.

Aaargh.

(i know people have actual problems and this doesn't count, but it drives me barmy)

I know exactly how you feel! My sister always manage to ignore whatever they say or do and she gets on alright with them while I am now living thousands of miles on the other side of the world to them! The problem is that they actually tell me they will ignore what I say anyway - so what's the point?

My mother is the same. While mil always goes over the top. it will not only be a schleich triceratops, but the playmobil one as well plus a stuffed one and a book and a DVD...

Ha ha my mother does this. "DS wanted a scooter? Well, I got him this screaming monkey toy instead"

Yep, MIL does this, what would he like for Christmas, paint and crayons and messy play things, oh thanks for the elc wooden garage toy which he never plays with and takes up the whole of his play table, DS however is shouting lets paint mummy, it's a good job you know what he wants....

My MIL always asks for Christmas present ideas for my DP and then goes wildly off course.

One year I said he'd like an old-fashioned razor (the kind with the removable blade). She got him 150 cheap, skin-mutilating disposable razors. Last year I told her that he wanted a coffee bean grinder. She got him loads of budget instant coffee! Bless her.

arg, my MIL does this and I hate it. What would mini-lib like for xmas? Well, she really loves playmobil, I say.

Then in return I get - I kid you not - a 5 paragraph email telling me how playmobil is crap, too expensive and bad for the imagination, and the man in the shop (he knows lots about kids you know) says it is only for 5+ year olds anyway.

But on Xmas day, I get the delight revenge of watching DD spent hours playing with the playmobil set we got her. MIL gets out the wooden skittles set she bought DD, says 'ooh look, skittles'. DD makes token attempt at chucking a ball at the skittles, then settles back down with the playmobil

We have this but not with a MIL! My sisters SIL never listens, She asked what our nephew (2) wanted for Christmas so my sister said she would like him to have a trike, I had bought him Playmobil bits and bobs and a Waybuloo play tent, I told my sister and she in turn told her sil, Who then decided to buy him a Thomas play tent!

Some people just do not understand!

My friend has a different problem - she spends ages chosing christmas/birthday presents for her dds, and then her mum and aunt come and rummage through them and take away the things they want to give the girls - so my friend has to go shopping again (and get a second lot of inspiration for gifts too - which is the harder part in my book). The aunt does work part time, I think, but her mum is retired, so could go shopping herself - but it is easier to raid my friend's present stash!

Staying - She should hide them/lock the presents away/tell mum and aunt to fuck off! How rude!

My MIL did this. We were absolutely broke, and she said she'd get my 4 year old a new winter coat for Christmas. We struggled by waiting for the parcel. When it came it was 2 pairs of tough corded M&S trousers (which he never wore as had sensitivity issues due to Aspergers). I was gutted!!

Oh yes, I know what you mean. MIL asked us about 40 times what DS wanted for his birthday, we told her 40 times. On his birthday he got nothing. A week later MIL rings us "i didn't know what to get him, what would he like?".

And breathe....

she is just getting you back for all the times you didnt listen to her as a teenager :)

ahh, i feel better. was expecting a flaming for being ungrateful!

Glad I'm not alone!

My God - you ungrateful besom! You should just be thankful that someone wants to buy your dc a gift. Sheesh - young mothers today are just so bloody entitled!!!

Sorry - couldn't resist.