To think this is so odd??!

[curiousgeorgie]

My PIL have mentioned several times over te past 8 weeks since their 2nd grandchild was born that they would love to have a canvas of the two children (my DD and new DN) to put on the wall.

With christmas coming thought this would be a great gift so sent a message to BIL and his fiancée to ask if we could get the kids together to do this for them. DH has a brilliant camera and is quite into photography so wouldn't cost them anything and wouldn't take long.

BIL sent a message straight back saying great idea, they'll love that, lets set it up.

3 hours later and she sends me a message saying 'Im going to have to say no to the picture'.

Weird???! Please tell me this is completely off because I'm not really sure what on earth I'm supposed to respond to that!

Just text back and say, "oh that's a shame, why?"

Ask her why?

Maybe hello mag have exclusive rights?

Teasels I just nearly said the exact same thing.

does SIL have any kids from a previous relationship?

I'm going to guess she's er. . besotted with her new baby and has already booked one of those Venture type sessions to give everyone a Christmas picture.

Yes very odd - id reply 'why? Dh willing to take photo etc so no cost to you. Mil would definitely love it'

Only thing I can think of is if they've already done a canvas?

Text back "Why?"

Just ask why?

Just ask

They have probably ordered something photographic with the new baby.

Has to be because they'd think it expensive?
Or maybe SIL doesn't want limelight hogged by your DC?

Maybe they don't want a canvas (neither would I, I think they look tacky, sorry).

Okay, I asked why and said that PIL would love it, and she just sent back 'I'd rather not.'

I'm sort of mad about it now actually.

Do they have to explain themselves? What happened to the Mumsnet mantra, 'No is a complete sentence'?

She doesn't want to. She can say no if she wants. There may be a good reason, there may be a crappy reason, there may be no reason at all. Just accept it and move on. Get your DH to do a lovely pic of your DD and give that to the ILs.

I know... It's just frustrating because I know they really want one.

You'll have to leave it now but my guess is that they are doing their own.

The texts ARE a bit terse. Do you normally get on?

Agree with Emmsyj.

She sounds massively precious, but some people are. Just do a portrait of your DC and give that to PIL - I'm sure they will love it - and next time someone wants you to do something reasonable you'd rather not, remember you are a bigger person than SIL and step up!

Fanjo - we do get on. We went for lunch yesterday, took the babies to rhyme time in the week, her texts are always lacking punctuation and kisses etc, its just the way they are.

I would think they were doing something like that themselves if BIL hadn't said yes right away...

As a joke just text back and say "no problem, I'll get my DC photographed and I'll just draw yours in"

What about asking BIL why she won't?

Just do one of you DC and leave it at that.

It's a group iMessage so they can see each others messages but he hasn't said anything. Texting him separately feels a bit like trying to cause trouble...

Although a lot of me now wants to take the pictures of both kids I already have (though not great) and make a giant collage of them

Oh I'd just reply saying 'ok that's a shame as mil has mentioned really wanting one but obviously your decision, I will let dh know as he'd already received yes text from Bol earlier. Hope you're having good weekend, see you XXXX'