To kill DH

[FoxtrotFoxtrotSierra]

Yesterday we saw DH's parents for the first time over Christmas so we took our gifts to give them. Prior to Christmas MIL had said to us t buy our own presents as she couldn't be bothered, which was charming, so we didn't have anything from them.

I recycled a gift for MIL that I was given - a scarf and gloves made of wool which brings out my eczema. Given that I couldn't use it and it wasn't dissimilar to something MIL already has (but a different colour) I thought she'd appreciate it.

DH bloody said as he handed it over "This is a regift from Foxtrot. She doesn't like it but thought you would."

Can I kill him? I was mortified and know I will now be punished for daring to give her something I didn't go out and buy - though if I had I would have bought something like the scarf and bloody gloves.

It is a reasonable response, no? Killing the bastard.

Oh yes you can definitely kill him. Perfectly legal to kill dhs under those circumstances.

Yanbu!

But, to be honest, even with his added wording, you still showed more care to her than she did to you so she can't be ungrateful!

Well, she "gave" you something that she didn't go out and buy, so I'd say the universe has balanced itself.

And your DH has just volunteered for all future IL present buying duties.

Yes kill him, how embarrassing! Men are so thick sometimes.

Just make sure his life insurance policy is in order, then go for it!

Definitely kill him. How did MIL react?

It can't have been a surprise to you. Charm and tact don't exactly run in the family do they?

How embarrassing!

I would throttle him.

Strangle with the scarf?

Or congratulate him on having taken on role of gift-buyer in chief for the next decade?

I thought I wasn't overreacting.

MIL did a proper catsbumface. I was making faces too, but at DH being so bloody indiscreet. And they were more like

Oh well, we did at least give her something. I am holding onto that.

I imagine he was trying to make the point to them that if they couldn't be arsed about you and him, then you weren't going to make much effort either, so I can understand why he said what he did, even if it was slightly at your expense. You'd be unreasonable to kill him for feeling miffed that his parents don't give a shit.

YANBU - sounds like a line from the The Royle Family Christmas Special.

Yanbu.

Sounds like the kind of thing my lovely discreet DH would say
I now proactively warn him of the consequences of opening his gob with his pearls of wisdom on occasions I think he's going to cock up.

Well I'll go against the flow here.

I wouldn't kill him.

I'd just make him suffer. A lot. Until next Xmas at least.

Don't kill him, he gave you the perfect opener to say 'I didn't think you'd mind, seeing as how you can't be bothered with Christmas shopping either'.

Dinner out and a gift from your DH is in order...... Don't worry about it too much though, MIL clearly doesn't give much thought to gifts (bit don't let him know)

I think that's a perfectly reasonable thing for a son to say to his mother, and a surprisingly odd thing for the mother to be annoyed at (are you sure you weren't projecting your feelings of discomfort?)

Does mother and son have different views on thrift, present giving etc. ?

Well, I think she deserved to know.

Next time, even if you buy new, tell her it's from a charity shop. :o

But I'd probably give up mil present duty to oh.

Sounds like your DH may have inherited Foot in Mouth from his mother anyway.

He has doubly offended her.Not only does she know you recycled the gift,she also knows you mustn't like the one she already has and presumably wears.

I wouldn't kill him,I'd hug him

tactless! i can't help but laugh. i like the sound of him.