MIL gifts

[SeamusMacDubh]

AIBU to ask what you are buying your MIL for Christmas?

If you want to add the level of relationship you have with your MIL for context, that's great too

I've asked DH what he wants to get her and he's useless (he suggested we buy her exactly what I bought her last year )

She's broken my marriage so a curse is what I'll be sending her!
Sorry not in the spirit of xmas! Ignore me!!

Some framed photos from photo session with baby and dsd and dss also some lovely super soft sheepskin gloves

Handkerchief, cd & a new vase as she requested. We are close but I would rather get bits I know she will enjoy and then treat her to wine or flowers through the year.

Nothing I leave that to DH. Sorry not v helpful either.

Perfume and slippers! Posh chocs and a nice bottle of fizz.

John Lewis vouchers...after 20 years I have effectively given up

Solar lamps for the garden. They're off her list so I can't go wrong!

DAB radio, as she requested, plus a little garden ornament we saw together.

Nespresso between her and DSFIL

Let him sort it. Honestly, if you start taking it on he’ll never do it again. If he gets her a repeat gift she’ll hopefully let him know and next year he’ll make more effort.

Mine is getting coal from Father Christmas for being evil. If she wasn’t, DH would be choosing her something.

My darling mum is getting tickets for the theatre and jewellery. Tickets for things always go down a treat.

A travel mug, a copy of my daughters school photo/ and a ticket to a show.

We have an okay relationship

DH is getting her and FIL new landline telephone units with big buttons as theirs has stopped working. I usually get them something from the dc - last year an engraved pocket mirror for MIL and a Granddad book for FIL. From me, nothing. I just tag on with DH gift. I did however do a large part of the graft hosting them for 5 days so that's gift enough.

We get along fine. I like going to theirs and receiving them as they are so in love with DD - very charming to see.

We are taking her & fil out for afternoon tea at a posh local hotel with the grandchildren (who are old enough to behave). She is lovely & I think she’ll appreciate it.

Well as a mil I have told my dil all I want is for them to spend Christmas as they choose, they choose with us, and to not waste money on gifts. So I think me and dh are having a new corkscrew and we are giving them 12overnight babysitting vouchers so once w month for the year.

Who wants perfume and talc

Smoked salmon, gravlax, kippers and salmon caviar from here, Inverawe in Argyle

My dad used to take me here when it was just a fishery, many years ago.

I love my MIL and she asked for smoked salmon so I went to a place I love to get it for her.

Mine is getting two scarves, earrings, a mug (posh bone china one) and diabetic chocolates from us. We are also spending a small fortune visiting her the weekend before Christmas, which requires train travel, staying in a hotel with our toddler, taking her out to lunch and paying for her taxi (long story, I could fill the Relationships board with tales of my MIL). We normally spend about £50 on her, same as other relatives on my side.

I think she likes it since I appeared on the scene some time ago now because I will often suggest things to DP that I think she'd like, or buy things I see for her if I travel for work, etc. Nothing expensive but things that are to her taste, and I think she does appreciate that.

DP tends to buy her stuff she asks for, such as books/DVDs; I buy stuff that I see that I think she'd like which she probably wouldn't buy for herself, even as a treat, and I get the impression she really likes to receive more "feminine" presents.

Our relationship is OK, probably because we only see each other twice a year. She drives DP, and me, bonkers but ultimately she is his mum and she brought up a lovely man all by herself, so I take deep breaths and remind myself of that when she gets going.

She buys what she wants and do gives her the money. Usually something ridiculous but it’s what she wants.

Personalised Swarovski charm for chamilia (sp?) bracelet. It has a pic of our 2 ds's on it. She adores the boys and takes any opportunity to show a pic of them So I'm sure she'll love this.

We usually get MIL & FIL a joint gift so will need to brainstorm. Last year it was a voucher for a two night getaway at a hotel of their choosing. That went down very well! Have to say I have a wonderful relationship with my in laws so I'm happy to be generous

I mostly leave it to DH to sort it out, unless I see something that I know she'll like whilst I'm out shopping. I confess I'm pleased she won't be with us this year, as she'll be with BIL and SIL, along with our 5 nephews and nieces. MIL is lovely but high maintenance.

Theatre vouchers for mine

Nothing. We each sort out our own families and don't really consult on it.

We always get my DM and MIL something edible, like a little box of posh chocolates, or some artisan pates or biscuits or something like that. They definitely wouldn't want any "stuff" that would clutter up the house - and DH and I are of the same opinion. We don't want any presents from anyone and, apart from those for our grandchildren and our mothers, we don't buy any either! We all get along fine, by the way.

I get on OK with my MIL. This year she;s getting a lace weight scarf I crocheted and a tote bag with a design DD drew on it.
She and FIl will also have a photobook of the DCs and a bauble made by the DCs.

And I know that might not seem much but they don't want anything and the entire family is so weird about gifts with cheques being exchanged as 'I've got Dad this from you so you owe me £x' which is followed by 'But I got Mum this from you so you owe me £x.45. Send me a cheque for the £0.45'

I do love my MIL but they have a very weird attitude to Christmas and gift giving. No one is ever allowed to have anything frivolous, all gifts must be 'useful' and 'worthy' and no one will ever buy me what I want because pretty yarn is frivolous.

I once gave my BIL the cash he'd asked for and wrote something in his card about spending it on frivolities. Went down like a lead balloon.

Anyway - scarf and bag is basically it. My SIL is buying her a charity toilet....

I adore my mil, but always prefer to ask what she'd like as she's quite frugal and will often wait until Christmas or her birthday to make a request. This year it was for a very soft pale blue V neck jumper. I've ended up spending more than planned, but the only baby blue ones were in cashmere rather than merino. I'll buy a few bits as surprises too, like chocs and a nice soap.