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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to expect my inlaws to

56 replies

mum382013 · 31/12/2012 13:18

bring a present for the kids to unwrap on Xmas day?
The send a card with £5 each child in a few days before. They came for lunch but brought nothing, not even a mars bar. They are not broke. They didn't even ask if they could bring anything for the table. But what really hurt was they brought nothing at all for the children. I think this is just rude. The kids were quite hurt that we gave them their pressies, some just from the kids, but they didn't bring anything for them. It didn't have to be anything expensive but something they choose for the kids themselves, they are their only grandchildren. AIBU? or is it me being sensitive?

OP posts:
PhoebeGreen · 31/12/2012 13:38

I know. It's horrible.
I just breezed over all the slights.
I'd do Christmas Day without the in-laws next year, and buy a gift for each child to open with the money they send.
It's nasty to have to deal with such a basic lack of grandparental affection though.

HappyNewBleurgh · 31/12/2012 13:38

Lol it is on mn mum38Grin

Heinous crime no 34563 according to mn. 'Thou shalt not expect a present'Wink.

(I don't think yabu at all though.)

MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 31/12/2012 13:39

Some people find it very hard in that situation, when my daughter was very ill my brother got helicoptered off his ship to come and be with me but he never met my daughter, he was there supporting me but he didn't want to get attached to her, he would have found it much harder to deal with had he met her. I know that hurt you at the time but not everyone deals with situations in the same way.

Original poster
mum382013 · 31/12/2012 13:39

i think they should have brought something

OP posts:
TravelinColour · 31/12/2012 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
mum382013 · 31/12/2012 13:41

it was because she was the 3rd girl. when we told them it was a girl on the scan she said oh no

OP posts:
Original poster
mum382013 · 31/12/2012 13:41

i agree it shows caring that you choose their pressie

OP posts:
MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 31/12/2012 13:46

It doesn't, I absolutely adore my nephew but I send him money on christmas and birthdays because I don't know what else he has got from other people.

TheoxenandDonkeyskneltdown · 31/12/2012 13:54

2nd thread today I've seen on MN regarding people's funny attitudes to more than 2 DCs of the same gender. Quite apart from the effort regarding Christmas gifts which I realise is OP's main concern, it does seem feeble on their part to turn up to a meal empty handed.

Either it's a case of "it's just family" in which case they don't go mad with bringing food or drink over (which some MNers find insulting anyway), but make an effort choosing presents and be generally more affectionate and caring, OR they prefer to be more formal and less effusive, fair enough but in which case it's definitely bad manners not to bring something along to the meal.

In future just tone down what you give them (eg miss out the dog?) and don't raise your DCs' expectations, (not a bad life lesson to give for the sake of giving without expecting much in return). You can't shake PILs' feelings about you not producing a grandson but I certainly wouldn't apologise for it or treat them with kid gloves like DH disappointed them by not fathering sons.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 31/12/2012 14:00

My PIL ask what my DS's want, we tell them they go ahhh well can you get them something then, then they send us a cheque to cover the cost. we wrap up said presents and hand them to PIL to hand to DS's. it used to piss me off but now its a family joke. Ds2 recalls MIL going in his room and saying to him 'oh whats that?' at the toy he was playing with, 'its what you bought me for xmas' he says, oh says MIL... no shame or remorse at all about not knowing, they just take no interest really. the boys know we buy it all now. easier now they are older as they just get a (generous) cheque.

FredFredGeorge · 31/12/2012 14:23

Even if it is expected for GP's to bring gifts (which I don't really accept) teaching children that it is HURTFUL if those gifts are not given is unreasonable, and I think a very bad idea. Tieing gift giving to love (which is the only reason you'd be hurt that I can see) is not a helpful character trait to have in life - it means you will accept abuse off someone if they give you gifts and you will be hurt when someone doesn't however much they love you.

2rebecca · 31/12/2012 15:33

I would have saved the fivers until Christmas day if I opened the card and found them there then. Santa brings our presents so when the kids were young i'd have preferred any visitors to give me presents in advance not bring them (but wouldn't throw a strop if they were keen to bring them). Next year ensure you give them their xmas money on xmas day, problem solved, although no wine seems mean but means you don't have to hunt out wine when visiting them..

dishwashervodkaanddietirnbru · 31/12/2012 15:36

I agree with saving the money until christmas day. My 2 got gift cards and money sent from family and we saved them for opening on christmas day with the rest of the presents.

ilovesooty · 31/12/2012 16:49

Since you seem to have so many reasons for disliking them I'm surprised you invited them at all.

elizaregina · 31/12/2012 16:57

"The only way for me to stay sane is to view them as dotty sitcom characters who occasionally collide with me in real life. "

LOVE IT if all of us with nightmare in laws could get our heads round them and put them in this box, life would be much easier!

peaceandlovebunny · 31/12/2012 17:46

are they JW?
don't fret re presents - just don't buy anything for them next year. send a card with £5 each.

lucindapie · 31/12/2012 18:06

I wasn't sure if this was unreasonable or not, but then i read that the dog gets 5 presents!! YANBU

Bunbaker · 31/12/2012 18:16

"I agree it shows caring that you choose their pressie"

I don't agree. My cousin's wife buys presents for my sister and her family and she puts no thought at all into what she buys - she bought sweets for my diabetic sister and a cookery book with meat and nut recipes for my vegetarian, nut allergy niece.

My auntie always buys something totally unsuitable that DD dislikes for birthday and Christmas. She wastes her money on things that end up in a charity shop. If you don't know what to buy children it is far better to give money than waste it on something inappropriate. My MIL always gives DD money these days as well. It is very welcome. If you get the money before Christmas just do as others have suggested and use it to buy the children something. It makes sense.

Loquace · 31/12/2012 18:16

Are you sure it is the presents (or lack there of ) that is getting under your skin ?

Is it possible that they have again failed to show real thought, interest and involvement with their grandchildren in a fairly minor way, and that has triggered memories of what it felt like when their son, his wife and their grandchild were in a very bad place, and they just...left?

I'm not sure that degree of "you and yours are not all that important to me" is all that easy to get over. Not quickly at any rate if it's half hidden and tucked away as something most of the time, where you don't face head on, because it hurts too much to think about it.

That must have been incredibly painful for you. I am so sorry.

Original poster
mum382013 · 31/12/2012 23:52

yes i think that is just how i feel loquace

OP posts:
Original poster
mum382013 · 31/12/2012 23:54

we once went around their house at xmas and there was a huge pile of pressies and i though they were for the kids. no for the dog! all said love from mummy and daddy!

OP posts:
Original poster
mum382013 · 31/12/2012 23:55

yes the dog got 5 presents (she brought the dog on xmas day)

OP posts:
Loquace · 01/01/2013 00:15

I think having your face rubbed in the fact that you and your children come a poor second to a dog, especially since it reminds you of their evident priorities even when one of the children was potentially going to die, is like being constantly slapped...but in the heart area rather than your face.

It's like being told your worst pain ever doesn't matter, again and again and again.

How much time do you have to spend with them ? Because I don't think they are going to change, and I don't think it does you any good to be constantly dragged back to the emotional state you were in at the hospital. If every time you see them and their actions trigger you back into the horror and fear of losing your child...god that has to be hard to cope with.

I'm not sure trauma like that always heals without the right kind of knowledegable support. Perhaps in the relief that the worst didn't happen, what did happen (awful trauma) got overlooked in the gratitude that the little one recovered ?

I really feel for you love, if that is the case.

Original poster
mum382013 · 01/01/2013 00:22

i think you are right. i need to not see them at all. it hurts

OP posts:
poppycock6 · 01/01/2013 00:30

That does seem a bit mean. Esp not contributing something for the meal either. Yanbu.

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