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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is a rubbish present from a mother....

27 replies

Foxules · 04/02/2012 13:23

I'm LIVID a parcel arrived today for DSS who will be 16 next week, it was addressed to my DH so him being at work,I called him to see if he was expecting anything then when he wasn't I opened it as is normal for our family. I thought it was some sort of 'wind chime' at first the noise coming out of the parcel. There is a card, as yet unopened as we don't open those, the present wasn't wrapped beyond a jiffy envelope. It's a complete cop out of a present and on top of this its broken. No gift wrap or anything, a parcel addressed to his father and the sorriest present ever. A print out, not photo paper but just paper of a film star DSS likes in black and white, in an Ikea frame of which the glass has smashed.
His mother isn't struggling, I'm just furious that is all she could be bothered to do for the 16th birthday of her only child. Granted there might be a voucher or money in the card, I really do hope so as I can't imagine this won't be a disappointing present for a 16 year old.

There just HAS to be a second part to this?? years cinema pass? something... I wouldn't put it past her taking this off a wall somewhere I really can't imagine her in IKEA..

I only hope there is another part to this, DH says he will ring her tactfully... so if there isn't a surprise in the card she has time to sort something better. Besides it's broken so he can tell her and get a replacement. Is that awful?

Young person in question is out today thankfully, she will probably say she hasn't had time could DH get something.... ARRRGH. the cow.

OP posts:
OlympicEater · 04/02/2012 13:27

I hope she has put something better in the card or that really is a crap present, well a non gift really Sad

Melpomene · 04/02/2012 13:33

Has she given appropriate presents on previous birthdays/Christmases?

zandy · 04/02/2012 13:36

You could be nice and replace the glass. Probably would cost less than a pound to have it cut to size.

StealthPenguin · 04/02/2012 13:41

That's absolutely shocking. I put more thought into my "it's been two years since our first date" present to my DP, and it was a photo of us at Hay-On-Wye while I was still pregnant. I'd gotten it professionally re-sized and printed and then put it into a gorgeous silver frame.

I'd have words, if I were you. That's shocking. Is she always like this?

Deflatedballoonbelly · 04/02/2012 13:43

Do you have time to nip out and get some replacement glass?

OriginalJamie · 04/02/2012 13:44

Have you reason to believe this would be the sort of present she'd give? Otherwise, you might be missing the whole story

bagelmonkey · 04/02/2012 13:46

There must be a linked present in the card.

cheesesarnie · 04/02/2012 13:48

present might be crap but until you know whether or not theres anything in card(maybe an explanation) you have no reason to get worked up about it.
its not her fault the glass broke!

Original poster
Foxules · 04/02/2012 13:50

:) I've taken all the glass off and its now just in the frame without glass, could replace the glass Zandy, but where? I'd rather she send something else tbh, though with or without its glass this will still end wrapped incase its relevant to the card.

I hope so too Olympiceater.

Thats something I should have mentioned Melpomene, he got an iTunes voucher for christmas which is acceptable, good even, although i'm sure he wanted more ... :) but they have had a falling out since he decided to live with his Father. I'm starting to get paranoid now, they where having a few problems because DSS has come out as gay, the picture is of Jude Law, perhaps she meant well? but why a cheap printout? Is it a hidden insult? Or is she saying, look I've framed Jude Law I'm making an effort?

OH ARSE. (she could be being nice)

OP posts:
OriginalJamie · 04/02/2012 13:54

You don't know the answers to these questions so why bother with speculation ....

Original poster
Foxules · 04/02/2012 13:54

You've talked me out of my anger now, thanks everyone, there HAS to be something in the card. I think she's being nice....... DH won't have phoned her yet. Suppose I'm going to the photo repro place. Blush

OP posts:
OriginalJamie · 04/02/2012 13:56

This is a brilliant thread.

magicwoodyallenzombiejesus · 04/02/2012 14:42

She thinks he fancies Jude Law...so jude law printout in a frame, dire present, truly horrible. Sure Repo men doesnt cost much now.
Steam open the card and prittstick it down again after, so you can assess the
damage...and either slip in a tenner or make it up with your own gift.
If she wants to do the pro/gay gift she could have got him a magazine subscription.

BeeBawBabbity · 04/02/2012 15:01

I think it's rude to complain about a gift. She's obviously put a bit of thought into it because she put a picture of someone she knows he likes in the frame. It's arrived on time for his birthday, with a card. It's unfortunate that it broke in transit but a jiffy bag is reasonable packaging.

It sounds a bit ungrateful to moan in my opinion.

squeakytoy · 04/02/2012 15:05

I think you need to keep out of it really. He is 16.. not a child. Let him deal with it.. or let your husband deal with it. (And I say that as a stepmother too.. some things, particularly when they involve the other parent are best left for them to sort out.. and the step-parent take a back seat).

coronet · 04/02/2012 15:09

Lots of people get crap presents from their parents. It's not as terrible as you're making out - she's sent him something and there might be something in the card. It's a bit odd to addressto your dp (and very odd that you have opened it). I wouldn't bother get more glass; I'd just put it in another jiffy with the card and let your dss open it and have his own reaction.

ragged · 04/02/2012 15:31

Some people don't realise that fragile things can so easily be destroyed in the post, and they wouldn't mind a cheap printout themselves.

zukiecat · 04/02/2012 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catgirl1976 · 04/02/2012 16:02

zukiecat Shock :(

troisgarcons · 04/02/2012 16:06

Do you think that in the card are tickets to something? and the picture is just a clue?

YellowDinosaur · 04/02/2012 16:19

Really, this is none of your business.

What she chooses to get her son for his birthday is entirely up to her. Yes, he might be disappointed if that is all there is, and it's nice that you're concerned about his feelings, but this is between him and his mum and nothing really to do with you. Honestly if my childs step mum got in touch to complain about the quality of the present I had bought for my own son I think I'd be furious.

Just make sure you get him a fab present.

RuleBritannia · 04/02/2012 16:28

Three points to bring up here.

  1. You think the present is rubbish but it's not for you, is it? Your DSS might think it's lovely.
  1. Why should your opinion matter over something that is not yours?
  1. I have been a divorced wife and glad to get away from him know what it's like to have a lot less money coming in. Have you thought about that aspect? No.
zandy · 04/02/2012 16:33

You can get the glass replaced at a picture framers/art shop.

zukiecat · 04/02/2012 16:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheCrackFox · 04/02/2012 16:53

Of course it is a shit present. Shit presents are often given on purpose to put the receiver in their place.

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