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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to have a short rant about ex's latest Crap Present for DD?

69 replies

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 18/12/2011 19:35

DD is 8 and her dad has a long history of sending her utterly shit presents.

She had the Argos catalogue the year she was 2. Not a lot of things from the Argos catalogue, just the catalogue. He told her it was 'a book'. I thought maybe he was just being an arse because it was the first Christmas after he'd left us and, well, he was generally being an arse at the time.

Then the next year he got her a box of Quality Street.

The next year, when she was 4, he got her a faux leather pillow with fake fur trim, that said Wild Thing on it in sequins and played the tune when you squeezed it. I think I started an outraged thread on it at the time.

Then there were a few years of his mum buying expensive things and wrapping them up and saying they were from him.

However this year he has fallen out with his mum (I suspect he has got yet another younger woman pregnant - 3 kids and counting so far) and so we are back to his own shitty efforts.

A 29p card (price sticker on the back).... and a packet of 3-for-£1-or-39p-each* strawberry laces stuffed in the envelope. I shit you not. That is what arrived in the post for her. I guess the other two packets went to his other two children, eh.

I mean why bother??? Nothing says I-couldn't-be-arsed like that, does it, even to an 8 yo that idolises him.

The big wanky wanker Xmas Angry

*I should point out that the cost is neither here nor there but for fucks sake, you might want to put just the tiniest bit of effort into the choice! I mean he could've spent 39p in a second hand shop and got something that would've meant more and been chosen specially for her.

OP posts:
moondog · 18/12/2011 19:37

Here I am.
Why did you?
Out of interest?

lljkk · 18/12/2011 19:38

Well you knew that, we don't have to remind you! Wink

How does your DD feel about the crap presents? Is she hurt?

RandomMess · 18/12/2011 19:38

Remember to be thankful he is your ex!

SantaAteAllTheBiscuits · 18/12/2011 19:38

My mother actually did ask my aunt that once about her ex.

Aunt's reply was 'I heard he was good in bed'

Sorry, not helpful to your situation really

AmberLeaf · 18/12/2011 19:38

What a nobber.

How does DD take it?

TheAvocadoOfWisdom · 18/12/2011 19:39

I do sympathise...

but secretly, I think that the argos catalogue is actually quite a good gift from a 2yos point of view. And from a 3yos point of view, a box of quality street would go down very well. And a pillow that played a tune for a 4yo? :o

I agree that the packet of sweets is crap though

AmberLeaf · 18/12/2011 19:39

Grin @Santa

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 18/12/2011 19:40

Hi moondog Xmas Smile - because I was 20, homeless, stupid, and he was a 30 year old, extremely good looking artist with his own house (well, his mum's house that he rented off her, but he didn't explain that bit 'til later) and the rest is, as they say, history. Needless to say, once we'd had a baby that was it, onto younger less tired women to do the same to pastures new.

OP posts:
thebigkahuna · 18/12/2011 19:41

He's a knob. Rant away my dear, rant away.

fedupofnamechanging · 18/12/2011 19:41

He is a useless fucker and you are quite right to be really really angry. Your poor dd.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 18/12/2011 19:41

And yes, he was good in bed. Shame he was good in quite so many beds instead of sticking to the one he was sharing with his partner Hmm

OP posts:
QueenOfFlamingEverything · 18/12/2011 19:43

Fugly pillow from a few years back

OP posts:
NonnoMum · 18/12/2011 19:49

Right. A knob of the highest order. Agreed.

Now, how can we help? I think he needs a good 'haunting' a la Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

Where does he live - we need to get the might of Mumsnet on to him.

The twat. The twat. The twat.

TheMonster · 18/12/2011 19:51

Sounds like he doesn't have a clue. You're best off without him, my dear.

moondog · 18/12/2011 19:52

I am sorry.
How awful for you.
As a complete aside, I gave my kids nothing when they were quite young.
I do still maintain it is effort not money that counts.

lljkk · 18/12/2011 19:55

For the sake of your DD (not his, obviously he doesn't deserve it) I would try to spin it in some way, "Some people don't really get the idea of how to give good gifts, but that doesn't mean they're bad people or that they don't care". sort of thing.

She can make up her own mind as she gets older.

madmomma · 18/12/2011 19:55

What a fucking tit. I'm not surprised you're angry. I'd rather he got her nothing at all. Hate shit, thoughtless presents for kids. At least she's got you. She'll be ok. Try not to let it wind you up; you can't control it.

Jux · 18/12/2011 20:05

Tosser. Eat the laces now and just give her the card.

Oh no, that's naughty Blush

Tryharder · 18/12/2011 20:07

Well, look on the bright side, Queen, you have given us a laugh. Why not ring him and say thanks for the card but you are a bit concerned because his present hasnt arrived yet....

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 18/12/2011 20:08
Grin

The laces are eaten already (by DD, honest!)

He did at least take the time to draw a frog wearing a Santa hat inside the card Hmm

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Wittsend13 · 18/12/2011 20:09

I think at least he bothers to send something. I might not be much but it's something. Maybe he doesn't have a lot of money?

rootietootie · 18/12/2011 20:19

Sorry i'm lolling at the Argos book. (Can I say lolling here?) What an utter knob. Surely it takes effort to come up with such rubbish insulting gifts!

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 18/12/2011 20:25

Yeah, maybe he's doing it in a post-ironic way and I am just too much of a pleb to notice Xmas Grin

OP posts:
SolidGoldStockingFilla · 18/12/2011 20:27

I can actually see a 2-year-old being quite pleased with an argos catalogue as a gift. Lots of pictures to look at and no one really minding if you tear it up or puke on it. And, while he sounds like an arse in many ways, he also sounds like a skint arse. Who does at least send his DC something.

Hippymum89 · 18/12/2011 20:29

My knob head of an ex stuffed 40 quid in my hand this year and said 'get her [DD that is, age 6] something'.

Not a totally crap amount of money, but CBA to even go in a shop and pick something.

TBF He did buy (although I think it came from somewhere dubious) her 2 presents ONCE... when she was 3, a boys fleece hoodie (blue stripes and a motor car on the front) wait for it.... age 12-18months!! And at the same time, a fake England football top (age 6-7!!!!!!)
Go figure! (and he earns 40 grand a year btw)
Knob Xmas Grin You are not alone lol.