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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about my Christmas gift choice for this ungrateful child...

138 replies

Ggirl27 · 13/12/2018 09:17

Have a small relative aged 8 who I buy a Christmas and Birthday gift for every year. And every time he opens a gift he whispers to his parent that 'I've already got this' or 'I don't like this', he is encouraged by his parent to say thank you which he does. This Christmas I have bought him a dressing gown. I was going to spend a lot of time choosing him a suitable gift as I usually would but as I usually miss the mark with this child I thought I'd just save my time as he's probably going to hate his gift anyway. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Orangeblossom1976 · 13/12/2018 09:19

Gift card so he can get what he wants?

Bigonesmallone3 · 13/12/2018 09:19

If the likelihood is that he won't like it then get something u know he will use like uv done.. chuck in a selection box..

PristineCondition · 13/12/2018 09:20

All kids are ungrateful some just hide it better.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 13/12/2018 09:21

I don't think you're being unreasonable to buy him a dressing gown but has it really not occurred to you to ask his parents what he might like in eight years?!

noodlenosefraggle · 13/12/2018 09:21

Yes I'd say get him a selection box! Dressing gown is fine.

negomi90 · 13/12/2018 09:22

Why waste your money on something he'll hate like a dressing gown. Spend less and get something cheap and cheerful or get him a gift card or cash.

MutedUser · 13/12/2018 09:23

There is nothing malicious in him saying he already has something . As you say he whipers it so not like he isn’t grateful . However the i don’t like that comments are awful infront of you. I would just give him some chocolate then you can’t go wrong

CircleofWillis · 13/12/2018 09:35

Why not ask him what he would like?

mbosnz · 13/12/2018 09:37

Buy him a goat from Oxfam for a kid that will appreciate it. Look at the joy in his dear wee face as he gets that.

KeiTeNgeNge · 13/12/2018 09:39

Ask his parents for ideas?

Blobby10 · 13/12/2018 09:40

I'd give him a selection box and £5 tbh

Patchworksack · 13/12/2018 09:42

Either ask his parents for suggestions what he might like or give him a book token or voucher. Why be so passive aggressive about it ?

Justanothernameonthepage · 13/12/2018 09:43

Yes to PP. Just ask. Get him something he's excited about or really wanting. He's 8, he's not yet able to pretend to be thrilled to get something he doesn't like or want.

woolduvet · 13/12/2018 09:43

Get him some slime!

GreenTeacup · 13/12/2018 09:45

If he is only 8 now then he would have been even younger previous years. I can’t take offence to anything a small child said.

He will have more awareness this year. Why not just ask his parents what he would like?

FrancisCrawford · 13/12/2018 09:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HollowTalk · 13/12/2018 09:47

But why don't you just ask what he'd like? I don't think he's being rude if he's already got something.

adaline · 13/12/2018 09:47

He's 8 - why did you not just ask his parents what he wanted?

HollowTalk · 13/12/2018 09:48

And he's probably got a dressing gown Grin

BlueBertie · 13/12/2018 09:48

Its really odd to not ask what he'd like and then choose from that. I really can't imagine an 8 year old being terribly grateful for a dressing gown. It's one up from socks and pants.

HavelockVetinari · 13/12/2018 09:48

No 8 year old would be pleased with a dressing gown! Get a selection box to add to it.

AllTakenSoRubbishUsername · 13/12/2018 09:52

Go to Wicked Uncle, they have some cool gifts unlikely to be duplicates. It takes a while to get this tact thing - he's only 8.

MarklahMarklah · 13/12/2018 09:53

My nearly 8 year old LOVES a dressing gown and picked on out a while ago as it was a 'monster' one with teeth on the hood.
However, if I'm unsure what a child of a friend/family member might like, I always ask or err on the side of caution with voucers/gift cards.

Loyaultemelie · 13/12/2018 09:55

My 8 year old would actually really love a dressing gown!

winsinbin · 13/12/2018 09:55

You absolutely can go wrong with chocolate. For years I gave my nephews a selection box with a £10 attached, eventually going up to a £20 note when they were teenagers. It is only recently (now they are adults and as a family we have agreed to stop presents) that they revealed to me that they both dislike chocolate and their mum used to eat the selection boxes.

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