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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Give presents back or not?

209 replies

Jibberoo · 29/12/2017 21:57

Hi all I have a major dilemma that I need some advice on. I'm just going to give all details so please stick with it. Before Xmas we saw our inlaws for Xmas lunch and to exchange gifts. They drove down to us as they were staying with friends near by for a few days. Anyway they haven't seen DS for ages (1 day all year I think) and haven't spoken to him either. Over dinner at restaurant ds makes a joke at MI expense - it was rude but he had heard his dad and uncle calling her this name in jest and he thought it would be funny too (he's 8). I pulled him up on it and told him off, dinner continued. We all get home for coffee etc and PI state that they are leaving as MI feels insulted by DS (calling her rude name in jest and not hugging her when they came 1st). I tell ds to go apologise to MI, he goes up says sorry and tries to give her a hug to say sorry. She pushes him away and FI and MI state that they don't forgive ds as are leaving. I remind them that the reason he didn't run to them and hug them when he saw them was that they haven't really seen or spoken to him all year. Ds very upset as he honestly thought he was making a joke like other adults were and he didn't want to hurt MI.
Anyway they leave and leave the presents they brought for ds dh and me. I inform ds that he can't open any presents from them as they it's not appropriate.
Ds cries himself to sleep because he thinks he's been so bad that now gps don't love him.
I'm angry at him for being rude but then more for not accepting apology that was really meant. Come Xmas day no text or phone call to ds from gps and he's upset all over again.
Fast forward to today (we were away after that), I don't know what to do with presents left behind. Mine I'm definitely sending back. But do I stick to guns and send ds presents back to gps? More than anything I think that presents that aren't given with love mean nothing and shouldn't be opened. Ds isn't missing out on presents trust me so it's more of a principle. Thing is I don't want to punish ds but I don't want him thinking that it's ok to not speak to family as long as you give presents (ie gps don't speak to him but leave expensive presents).
So AIBU to send gps presents back with note to say that since they can't forgive ds then presents aren't necessary?

Advice much needed

OP posts:
bimbobaggins · 30/12/2017 06:36

This sounds like something my mum would do. My ds told her when he was younger she wasn’t coming to his party ( party with school friends but still invited to family birthday dinner) and she told him she didn’t want to go to “ his scabby party” anyway. Very childish behaviour we have been brought up with. I don’t react to it anymore .
Your own dh hates his parents and you force him to have a relationship with them.?
Maybe take his lead on this

fizzingwhizbee · 30/12/2017 07:30

The thing is, you can try to keep them involved (in-laws) but it doesn't sound as though they want to be. So no matter how much your DS sees them, they'll never be the loving family that he craves and deserves.

Keep the presents, give DS his and just leave the in-laws well alone.

Sending the gifts back will inflame the situation. Just ignoring them is the best option I think

thegreylady · 30/12/2017 07:54

It will have compounded the situation that ds hasn’t sent a thank you message for the gifts. A little note or card will be better than a call and then leave it to them.

MrsDilber · 30/12/2017 08:31

I'd go over (with presents in boot of car) and talk to them honestly, calmly, tell them the truth (or DH, his parents). Explain about what DS said and why, explain how hurtful pushing him away was and his guilt. See what happens. If they're still obnoxious, give them the presents back, leave and wait to be contacted by them, if at all.

I think this sort of thing festers and needs a conclusion one way or the other.

Ruffian · 30/12/2017 08:50

So the plan is to keep ds' present and tell him his gps love him while sending yours back in order to hurt them and teach them they can't buy love. How will that work?

Eatalot · 30/12/2017 13:07

Please dont let your child believe this is the way people treat each other who they love. They dont love him enough to see him. Letting him have the gifts makes out they love him as they got him gifts.

If you can afford the suggestion to replace the gifts works to clear up any issue with him being punished. But tell him gps gifts were sent back as they behaved horribly and must apologise before he sees them again. Tell them their from you and why.

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 30/12/2017 13:33

Also, maybe just me, but I’d want to make sure that he knows that people who are supposed to love him wouldn’t push him. I’m really quite horrified that a grown woman physically pushed a little boy and then everyone is supposed to say “oh but granny loves you so much” Confused. Wouldn’t happen on my watch. She sounds fucking vile (sorry if that’s harsh).

GingerbreadMa · 30/12/2017 13:59

How are you focusing on your PIL after what your husband did to the poor kid? No good him "agreeing" with you, it was his fault and he let your kid take the blame!!!!

GingerbreadMa · 30/12/2017 14:11

Here is what I would be doing next:

  1. Let the kid have his gift, you think returning them will "teach" PIL something, it wont! & it punishes ds
  1. A PROPER apology from dh to ds : "it wasnt your fault, it was my fault, and Im sorry I let you get in trouble for using a name I did"
  1. Bit late as should have been done at the time: dh contact mil and say " if you want to be angry at someone be angry at db and me. We made up that name and taught it to ds. It is not ds's fault. And Im sorry it was a hurtful name to teach an 8yr old to use about his grandma"

And then I would espect reassurance from DH that he would NEVER let his child take the fall for him like that again!

The PILs behaviour is small fry compaired to how your dh has acted

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 30/12/2017 14:20

I have very minimal contact with my dad. He badly let me down as a child and as an adult. It left me very hurt. I won't let him do that to my children. No big drama, I just don't initiate anything and he characteristically doesn't bother with them.

Your in laws hurt your DH and now they have hurt your son. When someone tells you who they really are listen.

Your D'S doesn't need a big loving family he just needs a loving family. Don't let them drag him down.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 30/12/2017 14:24

I'd be checking what's actually in those presents as well by the way...

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 30/12/2017 14:26

When someone tells you who they really are listen.

Reminds me of that MayaAngelou quote; “when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time”

FireCracker2 · 30/12/2017 14:27

Can you not see how hurt and humiliated your MIL was ? For starters your ds is 8 not 3 .He knows that it is not OK to speak to an adult like that - do you think he would call his teacher stinky? It just shows such a lack of respect and coupled with the fact that your DH and BIL have taught him that is all the more humiliating.
Your MIL might be getting to the age where she does leak a bit and is now worrying that she does smell.I have a teacher friend who one of the bottom set trouble makers said to her that her breath stank, and she trailed round dentists and GP before being convinced that it was indeed said out of malice.
You need to talk to your DS and explain that hurtful comments cannot just be 'unsaid' they can plant a seed of doubt and worry people.
I don't know how the MIL has gone from being the victim to being the villain!

Beakyplinders · 30/12/2017 14:37

They've seen your DS once in the past year and it seem a they've grabbed hold of any excuse not to see him (or you/your DH) again.

If I were you I just wouldn't bother with your parents in law again as they don't seem bothered by spending time with you or your family. Follow your DH's lead and leave them to it.

Jaxhog · 30/12/2017 14:39

What a difficult situation you have OP. Poor DS, he's only 8 and probably feels very bad about what he did. I think he's suffered enough, so should get his present.

Personally, I would write a letter to the ILs and apologise again about the nasty words, but say that you are all upset about how the situation was left. Ask if they would like you to return the presents to you and DH, as you feel awkward in keeping them under the circumstances. Don't explain in detail. don't grovel and don't mention their behaviour (however tempting it might be). This is if you want to maintain any relationship with them for your DS's sake. Otherwise, chuck the presents and go NC.

AcrossthePond55 · 30/12/2017 15:09

This is one of the reasons I just hate this kind of shit and wouldn't tolerate it for myself or my family. I mean calling someone 'stinky', 'clumsy' or 'silly' or some other negative term as a joke or backwards 'endearment'. My DH is 6' 5" and hated being called 'Tiny' at work but would never say anything. Our last name can be shortened to a nickname that would be suitable for a man but not a woman (think along the lines of Butcher being shortened to 'Butch'). I had a manager who thought it was quite funny to call me that given the slang connotation to calling a woman 'Butch'. I gave him short shrift and he stopped. The name callers think it's funny or 'really means the opposite' but chances are it's hurtful and embarrassing for the person being 'nicknamed'. And if they complain they're accused of being 'thin-skinned' or 'no sense of humour'.

I agree that OP's DH needs to speak to their son and let the poor boy know that it was very unkind of DH and DB to make up that nickname for their mother and that DS is no way in fault for using what he was taught. And that MiL should have been able to 'use her words' to explain why she didn't like what he said instead of pushing and getting angry. Both of these things can be a good lesson for DS to remember to be kind, in words and deeds.

DH and DB owe an apology to their mother. Chances are this 'name' has been rankling for years and hearing her grandson use it and seeing it 'carried on' into the next generation was the last straw. GM owes her grandson an apology for blowing up and not handling it in a calmer fashion.

But apologies need to be sincere, not 'demanded' and not just words. If the brothers don't see the error of their ways, if GM doesn't believe she was in the wrong, then don't bother trying to force the issue. Just be sure they all understand that the behaviour won't be tolerated in the future.

And as I posted earlier, just back away and let the relationship with DH's parents take its natural course. If it fades away or becomes a once in a year thing, fine.

AcrossthePond55 · 30/12/2017 15:10

note = Butcher isn't our name, but the nickname still carries the same connotation as calling a woman 'Butch'.

Charolais · 30/12/2017 15:27

Tell ds they love him even if they can't always show it correctly I think it is also your son who has a little trouble in this department.

“Stinky Old Nana”? He was being very rude. I have raised two men, the oldest in his 40’s now, and they would never have called their grandparents this as children. They knew better. I believe your MIL suspected he was reflecting your hatred of her.

Instead of focusing on your pils behavior you need to focus in the direction your son is taking to make up such a hurtful joke. It is not like be blurted it out. He saw nothing wrong with spelling it out.

GinandGingerBeer · 30/12/2017 15:51

Oh fuck em honestly, send her some deodorant and a flannel.
Flog the gifts and have a nice day out.

Not really Grin but honestly what a miserable woman

GetMeOutOfHerePlease · 30/12/2017 16:02

We have a name we call my Mam, it’s done with affection and my mam laughs signs bday cards etc with the nick name, if dd called her it, she’d laugh. It’s a silly name like the OP.

However, my Dad isn’t like that and would find it rude and would leave and would tell everyone about what a shit Daughter I am and how awful my child is. I repeated a joke I’d heard by adults in his presence at a similar age and got similar treatment to you son, the joke is one I’d heard from his own mouth ffs and at the time I had zero understanding of why it wasn’t appropriate. He also expected hugs and loving affection, didn’t like that I teach my dd her body is hers an nobody is owed physical affection from her. I could go on and on with a million examples.

My Dh respected how I felt about my (now dead) Dad and I’ve cut contact with his wife and his stepson several years ago, he wouldn’t ever push me to see them and trusts me to know what’s for the best, he doesn’t want our dd being made to feel the same way my Dad made me feel as a child.

I do get what you try with them, but I’d be listening to the man who was raised by these people, and they’ve shown you they haven’t changed, I’d be making sure it’s the one and only time they make my son feel like shit. I’d not want it to be one of several memories like that.

A small genuinely warm loving family where you can be yourself is way way better than maintaining the relationship between a large family where you have to feel anxious of people falling out and getting offended etc.

If dd said something She didn’t realise would upset my Mum, She’d say sorry, my mum would say it’s ok and it would be back to normal.

If dd did it with my Dad, she’d say sorry, Dad would draw it out and store it in his memory bank to bring up when telling stories if his badly done to he is.(he went in and on about my mam not pairing his socks and what a shit wife she was until the day he died, they’d been divorced over 30 years ffs)

Italiangreyhound · 30/12/2017 16:24

Unpleasant nick names seem always wrong to me. I know a woman who was called something like 'rubbish' as a nick name. I felt it was very wrong. And an adult man who incorporated a name, I think he was bullied with, into his name.

Even when adults and kids accept names given by others which sound mean, it seems wrong, IMHO.

stitchglitched · 30/12/2017 16:40

FFS at some posters thinking an 8 year old using the word stinky is a bigger problem than grandparents who never bother and then physically push and reject a crying child who is grovelling to them apologising for his silly joke.

OP you need to protect your son from these people.

Perfectly1mperfect · 30/12/2017 16:42

It sounds like you would be better off without these grandparents.

They have not made an effort to see or speak to their grandson in a year. They then think that he should want to hug them, they are basically strangers to him. Then they won't accept an apology and push him away ! They sound vile and also childish.

I would let another year pass where they make no effort to see him and then be 'busy' next Christmas.

Let him have the presents. Why should he suffer in another way. I would be surprised if the presents are what he likes though as they can't know him very well with hardly seeing him.

Not seeing them is better than seeing them and having them upset you child.

Soozikinzii · 30/12/2017 16:54

I think your DH was right in keeping away from them he obviously knew what they're like and didn't do that lightly. I'd just accept that he's right now.

seasidelife · 30/12/2017 16:57

Family is more than just the people that you are born to, you can make a huge family of totally awesome, loving people if you don't waste time and energy on miserable people that suck the fun out of the lives of everyone around them! Unconditional love is exactly that, love that comes from lovely people, with no rules or prearranged criteria. I had relatives like that, my mum tried so hard all our lives to try and make them happy, it never worked and as an adult, I have chosen to write them off, you reap as you sew, we're all trying to teach our dc that their actions have consequences and we should be nice to people etc.... Except when it comes to excessive miserable old people, then we all bend over backwards??? Nope, draw a line!!

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