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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think this present was Ok?

199 replies

Miren · 01/05/2014 17:53

Recipient: Woman, early 30's. Professional, no children.

Giver: 3 young children.

Occasion: Birthday

Gift: Homemade pink lemonade in nice glass bottle. Homemade cookies wrapped with homemade gift tags and a handmade card.

We don't know her very well so I thought this was a way to be generic whilst personal. It wasn't very well received.

OP posts:

Original poster

Miren · 02/05/2014 10:31

I have to say I'm taking offence at likening my cookies tp those that come out of a primary school cookery class

OP posts:

Applespearsorangesandlemons · 02/05/2014 10:35

I would have acted thrilled but wouldn't have been that keen on in. No excuse for being rude though.

Shewhowines · 02/05/2014 10:35

But even the nicest children pick their nose sometimes or have other unsavoury habits. I can completely understand why some people don't want food made by any child, although personally I didn't rule out all.

HecatePropylaea · 02/05/2014 10:43

I like lust better

The three worst stories involve
tinned pies
whole chickens
and pre packaged sandwiches

I think mnhq would tell me that I have to watch what I say since I am only repeating the claims of people who worked for the companies

I was on a thread yonks ago though, in less litigious times , where we were all telling tales of terrible food crimes.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 02/05/2014 10:45

I'm actually shocked by how many people wouldn't eat food homemade by children after it's been oven baked

What happened to manners, and what difference will it make if any germs in the mix have been killed by cooking?

And even if you would never eat them (as some posters have said), then you could dish them out and be grateful.

Hoppinggreen · 02/05/2014 11:10

Yes I would have been horrified bit
I would probably just have seen potential child germs rather than the effort and thought that went into it!!
If it had been from close family I would have thought it was nice but not people I didn't know well.
As I said though no body would have known as I wouldn't have been so rude as the person in question here.

101handbags · 02/05/2014 11:14

Well I don't have kids but I do have lots of godchildren and that's the sort of thing they would do - I would have suggested we open it and all share it together. Nice present.

Aeroflotgirl · 02/05/2014 11:14

Goodness hopping it's not a piece of poo!

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 02/05/2014 11:18

I think anyone who has that reaction to a gift is ungrateful and rude. I would have been delighted to receive pink lemonade and home made cookies and would have enjoyed trying both.

I am surprised that so many people wouldn't eat things made by children, I am sure most parents would get their kids to wash their hands first and I am sure there are a lot of adults with unsavoury habits too.

I have to say I have eaten things made by all kinds of people, adults, children, dementia patients in the care home I work at etc. and I have never been ill so I would never worry about germs like that.

WooWooOwl · 02/05/2014 11:18

I'm shocked that people are shocked that others don't want to eat food made be someone else's children!

It's not exactly an appetising thought is it, even when common sense tells you that the oven will have killed off any germs.

Saying that, I used to do home baked cookies or cakes in pretty packaging for my children's primary school teachers sometimes, but I was well aware that they might end up in the bin. Or more likely, be given to the two male teachers who would eat anything.

That didn't matter though, the point was that my dc love my baking so they were happy to be giving something that they like, they had something to take in when everyone else was doing the same, the teacher got the message that we were thankful for their work and will at least have appreciated the thought and the time taken, and teachers can be trusted to receive the gift in the appropriate manner, even if they don't want to eat it.

Pufflemum · 02/05/2014 11:20

I would of pretended to like them then poured the lemonade for the children and given them the cookies to eat. Everyone is happy (except me with no present, unless it was a lovely bottle).

rumourhasit · 02/05/2014 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 02/05/2014 11:42

I find it perfectly appetising to eat something made by children and I would have loved a gift like that.

Swannery · 02/05/2014 11:49

Lovely present - I'd have loved that. Homemade stuff is so much nicer than bought, and it shows a lot of effort too.
When I was the childless aunt I never got anything half as good. Once or twice I got weird shapeless clay objects, which no-one could realistically be expected to appreciate. Or else a bottle of bath soap clearly bought by the parent.

sunbathe · 02/05/2014 12:36

Ha ha, yes, hecate.

Dubjackeen · 02/05/2014 12:46

I'd have loved it. It sounds like a lovely present. I love seeing kids making cards, all excited about giving them, awww.

Original poster

Miren · 02/05/2014 12:51

Thanks Dubjackeen - there were so excited as they had spent a long time (rainy day!) on it and she barely even glanced at the envelope.

OP posts:

WyrdByrd · 02/05/2014 13:16

In all honesty I think it's a bit of an odd choice of gift in that context, but the GF was def BU to not show more appreciation for it.

Echocave · 02/05/2014 13:18

What a rude woman! As others have said, with gifts from children it really is the thought that counts. The nature of the gift is irrelevant (unless it's downright offensive/ill health inducing in which case the parents should possibly step in!).

That said, I think the gift in this case sounds rather lovely!

FiscalCliffRocksThisTown · 02/05/2014 13:21

I am a bad person.

I don't like other people's home made stuff.

DOn't trust people, they put in horrible margarine, or are not very hygienic. Don't care about home made labels and twee stuff, fancy wrappings.

I would always pretend I am pleased. then chuck it.

Before having children, I would have thought :" Riiiiiiiight….." Now I just think:" Right…."

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 02/05/2014 15:35

I suppose the crux of it, no matter your view on the gift, is that she did not like the present. So I'm going to pretend it's someone giving me a pink Barbie tshirt for comparison. I would hate said tshirt. It would be my idea of the worst gift ever, but I would say, "thank you so much, it's lovely" especially if given to me by someone's dcs, and especially if they were possibly future inlaws.

Whether she liked the gift or hated it is irrelevant IMO, she was ungracious and rude, and i would view her as incredibly common because of it.

NorthLDNgal · 02/05/2014 15:37

How did the recipient show they were not pleased with the present?

Sazzle41 · 02/05/2014 16:14

She sounds like she has little contact with children. People who dont , often don't go overboard for or appreciate childrens efforts re pictures drawn or items made. Also, is she maybe dieting/tricky round what food she likes too? Cookies and lemonade wouldnt last 5mins in my house! Or is she just into expensive stuff when it comes to gifts? You know her best ?

Whitewaters · 02/05/2014 18:16

The point is that even if they had made her booger cookies and arsewipe lemonade she should have smiled sweetly and said thank you very much. I'm going to enjoy these tomorrow.

Could not agree more! I'm not a fan of homemade food from those I don't know really well - following 2 unfortunate instances (once I ate brownies that almost certainly contained bogies and once ate a piece of cake made by someone who later confessed to never washing her hands after going to the toilet, and came out of the toilet with what looked like poo on her hand!) Clearly they didn't kill me though!
However, if someone gave me a turd on a plate I've been brought up well enough (and British enough!) to smile, thank them, and probably write them a little thank you card afterwards thanking them again for a lovely present and saying how kind and thoughtful they are to have made something just for me. please no one ever actually me a turd on a plate

She should have at least acted gracious. It's the thought that counts after all.

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