To be insulted by my MIL's idea of a gift for DD

[MsWetherwax]

DD is her 1st Grandchild. She is 3 months old. MIL returned from a shopping break to New York last week bearing thewanky generous gift of a christmas tree decoration with DD's name on it. In September. Am I wrong to think this is a bit odd?

[sparklythings]

What the hell's wrong with that gift?! Was all set for an idiotic present and inclined to agree with you, then read the post and thought WTF?
YABU. It sounds like a lovely gift that you can keep for many Christmases to come, in my opinion. I'd think it lovely if my MIL gave my kids that.

[MsWetherwax]

In my defence, this was just a the latest in a long line of incidents, some most definately real, others, like this one, probably imagined on the back of other, far worse scenarios. Maybe i need to try harder with her...

[GnomeDePlume]

On the plus side you still have the better part of 3 months to get rid of the plastic bauble.

I am quite happy to be precious about my Christmas tree. No personalised tat for us! 'Special' decorations dont survive the hammer test.

Each to their own BTW!

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Think of it as a timely reminder that Christmas will never again be tasteful or colour-co-ordinated now that you have a child .

I can see why you were slightly taken about. It would have felt less weird if she had held onto it and given it at Christmas time. But HoHoLaughingMonster is spot on. You'll look back on this and laugh, and well up when you think of that first Christmas.

[BoosMaw]

YABU. Sounds like a reasonable gift, perhaps a little tacky, depending on the style, but for you to overthink it to the point of starting an AIBU thread, well that's U.

[MsWetherwax]

Rita, no, its not about money at all. I wasn't expecting anything. I was merely demonstrating to iggy that it wasn't Tiffany!

Bessie, am ashamed to admit that I am not a young girl at all and am in fact approaching 40.

I really must learn not to post after a glass of wine, especially when my thoughts are less than charitable....

[Soups]

In a few years time she'll love the tradition of getting her Christmas decoration out and hanging it up. My kids were given a named tree decoration each as babies and they still love them, one is 10. You don't have to put it on the tree if the colours clash ;) Get one of those tree decoration hanging things (usually like a small wire Christmas tree) and put it somewhere else. In her room? Then it'd be even more special ;)

[olderyetwider]

YANBU. You are being fucking ridiculous.

[fostermumtomany]

my nanna did the same for me when i was a baby (but not one from ny), and she died last year at 93 years old. i love my bauble every christmas it gets pride of place on the tree. its made of gaudy green and bright blue with my name on it but spelled wrong lol but i still absolutely love it, when i was a child i would look for it in the christmas box and be gagging to put it on the tree, i loved having my own decoration.
so yes even though its been said repeatedly, yabu!!!

[Grumpla]

Hey hey hey, the OP has already eaten humble pie several times over!

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

also it would have been light to carry in suitcase

[YouWinOrYouDie]

I think it's a lovely idea in theory just as I think it's a great idea to buy a bauble per year for each DC to add to the tree as times goes by.

BUT! How the fuck does that work with the continuity and the colour schemes when moving house / redecorating?

I suppose the answer is to buy a second tree for the kitchen / DC room...

YABU to expect anything other than this sort of thing for a baby but we live and learn...

[GetAwayFromHerYouBitch]

My mum buys a bauble/decoration every year for the DCs. It's a lovely tradition.

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

OP well done for accepting the judgement of the masses

I really urge you to try harder with your MIL. I had big reservations about mine, but have really persevered since having my DSs and it has paid off. We now get on really well, there is genuine warmth between us.
It would have been really easy for me to get sniffy about a few naff gifts she bought and a few careless remarks, but I am really glad all that is forgotten.

Sorry I don't mean to cast myself as some kind of paragon, just to say that if you can start over and develop a good relationship then it really does make life so much smoother and easier. Seeing how much my boys love her, it makes me glad that she is in our lives.

[Growlithe]

Don't want to labour a point OP, but when DD1 was a small baby I had many issues with overpowering MIL. We had a disasterous holiday together on which she gave DD1 a rabbit that sang 'hush little baby'. I hated it, and because it just reminded us of this awful hol when we'd argued so much that when we came home we bunged it on top of DD1s wardrobe. Fast forward past the birth of DD2 and the long illness of MIL during which I was able to make peace with an actual very wise MIL before she passed on. We have now replaced DD1s wardrobe. DH and FIL moved the old one, chucking cuddlies on top on the floor. DD2 got hold of rabbit, pressed to play 'hush little baby' and, well you can guess what we felt. They'd also bought us the cot/bed and lots of other stuff, but that rabbit got us..... She did my head in at times, but I miss her now....

[mynewpassion]

I would be afraid to buy you a gift if this is your reaction. What an ungrateful person. Glad you own up to being an ungrateful person.

[pinkytheshrinky]

Oh dear, you don't like your MIL much do you?

This reaction to a gift says a good deal more about you than it does her.

YABVU

[Georgimama]

If this is the all she has bought for her first grandchild then it is a bit off if she can afford shopping trips to New York. There is nothing much wrong with the bauble in itself as a "sweet" little trinket that she saw and thought was cute. But I am surprised that a 5.99 bauble is her only gift to her first grandchild. If that makes me grasping - big shrug.

[whoneedssleepanyway]

OP I am off to NYC for Thanksgiving (without the DDs..) and am now planning to get them each a Christmas tree decoration with their name on it having read this!

If as you say this is the only thing your MIL has got for your DD that is a bit odd, but I do think this is quite a sweet gift.

[wideawakenurse]

I agree withGeorgimama. It's not the gift, which whilst not to your taste, is a kind gesture and shows that MIL was thinking of your DD.

But for a $5 bauble to be the only gift to her first grandchild does seem odd. My FIL and his wife bought DS a pack of asda babygros (not in their wrapping and so reaking of fags) when he was born. I was bemused by this too and yes a little insulted. I wouldn't mind, but they jetted off on holiday the following week which meant they could afford a holiday abroad over Xmas and new year.

I was not expecting a big, expensive present from them. But just something that summarised their excitement and emotion of their Gs being born. That, really isan't captured in a pack of supermarket babygroes.

[wotabouttheworkers]

My daughter is 17 and oh so cool and stylish. Every year, when the box of Christmas decorations comes down out of the loft she is a child again as the items she remembers from being small emerge - she is always highly delighted to see them. Wait and see how your daughter reacts in a few years time. I think it is a great idea for a present. If you can't bear the tree in a public place as it were, put it in DD's bedroom as her special decoration each year.

[Iggi999]

I think calling the op a bitch is completely fucking unreasonable,Hengashanroad. Have you actually read the thread?
Posters are saying a lot about "it's the thought that counts" but having your first gc, buying her nothing when she is born, and then picking up a cheap bauble when you're off enjoying yourself in NY months later - well that's not the level of "thought" I'd think worth praising. Op you should do your best to have a decent relationship with mil but she's clearly not going to win any granny-of-the-year prizes!

[Pagwatch]

HengshanRoad

Your name calling is pathetic and inappropriate.
It makes you look particularly foul when juxtaposed with the ops rather gracious and measured reaction to all the comments on here.

[Pagwatch]

I think the bauble is a rather sweet gift tbh as a 'here, I've been away - have a little prezzie' gift. The people complaining about the price are sounding pretty grasping