to have wrapped up a gift for a blind recipient?

[abigboydidit]

So, DH's Grandad (GD-IL?) is registered blind. I know that covers a whole spectrum of visual impairment but GD-IL really can see very little - only shadows. For his present I had bought him some talking books which MiL was going to drop off for me. She arrived far earlier than expected so I started gift-wrapping the books while she was chatting. She was utterly incredulous at this and started making all these sarky comments about what a ridiculous waste of time/money when he can't see the gift, let alone the wrapping.

She harped on and on about it for the entire time she was here and then made snidey comments to DH and FiL about me too which they ignored as they tend to zone her out.

So - was I being unreasonable? I'm not stupid and I know he couldn't see it but for me it's part of the whole experience. Plus, I had used dried orange slices and cinnamon as a decoration so thought the smell would be nice and festive.

Part of the fun of a gift is unwrapping, she was being rude, its not doing her any harm.

I think I would still wrap it and the scented decoration sounds devine!

Of course YANBU - a blind person should be accorded the same as a sighted person.

My step-Dad was blind and he was a great laugh and adored practical jokes. I'll not forget the year we wrapped a scented soap penis - he fumbled and sniffed and laughed louder than all of us when he realised!!!!

Your MIL was being rude. The orange and cinnamon sounds lovely - great idea.

YANBU.

Forgot to say she sounds like a miserable out bat! Ignore!

He is blind but he can still unwrap gift even if he can't see it.

What an utter bitch your MIL is. Not sure if I want to slap her or cry at how heartless she is.

My mum is also blind and of course I wrap her pressies too. That's so thoughtful about the orange and cinnamon - an idea I will pinch for next year too! Hope he likes the talking books - what a Godsend they are to the blind!

You sound lovely - Happy Christmas.

No of course you're not unreasonable. Your mil sounds rude.

YWNBU - Your MIL is being a twat. I know many people who are visually impaired and none of them have ever commented negatively about presents being wrapped up. It wouldn't occur to me to leave them unwrapped to be honest.

The present sounds lovely btw,

It hadn't crossed my mind that I shouldn't wrap my grandas present, he has very little sight, but surely the point of wrapping is to disguise the contents, so that would equally apply to a blind persons gift?

MIL is very rude and obviously sees the disabled as some kind of inferior people who are not worthy of the same consideration accorded to able-bodied people. Is she awful in other areas too?

What a lovely idea with the orange and cinnamon - I'm sure he'd appreciate the thought that you've put into that

Ignore MIL, not important what she thinks about it. The present it for GD-IL and as long as he like it (as I'm sure he will) that's all that matters.

Hope you have a great Christmas

Poke her eyes out Kill Bill Black Mamba style. The ignorant, uncaring bitch.

Sorry but what a cow she is. You're a star for being so thoughtful. I bet he'll love how you've considered things for him.

She was being very unreasonable. Next year don't wrap her presents because she clearly doesn't appreciate the effort....

Why would you treat him any differently

I love the idea to make it smell lovely!

I agree with you OP - in any case surely wrapping paper disguises the 'feel' of any present, so if it's a Braille book the recipient wouldn't be able to tell its name, or if it was clothing the feel of the fabric etc would be hidden. I think it's remarkably ignorant to think that blind people would get no sense of anticipation or enjoyment from a wrapped present

It's a great idea to wrap it ! I wish I could have your thoughtfulness . Will be stealing the orange and cinnamon idea myself next year .

She's a caaah. You are not. Love the smelly idea. Flick her the V's and move on.

Haha! Thanks everyone. The crazy thing is, it's her Dad so you'd think she'd be the opposite way but then again she is a cow. Am 36 weeks pregnant at the moment so constantly at the mercy of my hormones slightly more fragile than usual and her belittling remarks did hurt my feelings more than a little

YANBU. It sounds like you've really thought about it. A lovely gesture.

My dear late Step Dad was blind. The only thing I ever did was make sure the present wasn't sticky-taped to the max. Just loosely wrapped so he could discard the wrapping easily and didn't need help to open it.

YANBU even if he can't see it its part of Christmas and receiving a gift is opening it, why should he be pushed out of something like that? I'm sure he'll enjoy it

Yanbu!!! At all your mil sounds awful! For what it's worth my grandad was blind completely had been since the 1930 s and we used to have to wrap his presents and add extra layers etc or he's guess from the wrapped shape in seconds, it was almost impossible to fool him but was a lot of fun :)

Both of my parents are blind. They would be very upset if I didn't bother to wrap their presents. Can't see why your DH grandad should be treated any differently to everyone else that you give gifts to.

Your MIL is so so wrong.

You sound like a lovely, thoughtful person who is treating your gd-il like you would everyone else. Inclusivity in action. I think you sound cracking. Stuff your mother in law. Why shouldn't he have accessible wrapping?