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AIBU?

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Original poster

To respond in kind to DGM's gift for the kids?

74 replies

TheABC · 23/12/2019 20:09

Mum has just dropped off the gifts from my Grandparents for my kids (they live 3 hours away). The main present from them is a toy Grand Piano that is on its side and taller than my three year old. It won't fit into either of their bedrooms and it's an accident waiting to happen downstairs. We have an open-plan house and scrapped the similarly-sized coffee table after my 6 year old careened headfirst into it.

When asked by my Mum DGM confessed she did this to annoy my husband (they don't see eye to eye). I am actually more pissed off about it as I'm going to be the one who has explain to the kids and cart it to the dump or charity shop after the first accident. It's disrespectful to us both and an utter waste of money.

DGM has done this before with baby items and I know she won't listen to my request for easily stored gifts. It's her birthday in a few weeks and I am tempted to find the biggest, tackiest home decor ornament I can find on Amazon with free delivery. It's the thought that counts, right?

OP posts:
EgremontRusset · 23/12/2019 20:11

Can’t believe she confessed she was doing it to piss off your DH! She’s openly inviting drama, so a large tacky ornament sounds v proportionate 😂

Horcrux · 23/12/2019 20:12

Have the kids seen the present? Can you get rid before they open it?

Icecreamsoda99 · 23/12/2019 20:12

She doesn't sound very nice but you could probably sell it on and get a decent amount rather than send it to the dump, I think I'd do as you planned and get her the tacky gift but then I can be very petty!

Horcrux · 23/12/2019 20:12

I too would also buy something in return

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 23/12/2019 20:14

Sell it and use the money to buy something your dcs want. It's very petty and childish if she's done this to annoy you, but don't lower yourself to her pettiness and send her a massive gift.

Notthetoothfairy · 23/12/2019 20:14

I think sell it or try to return it to the shop and buy something more suitable

MatildaTheCat · 23/12/2019 20:14

Don’t waste any money on her an ask her to stop buying any gifts at all if this is her idea of getting own back on your DH for some reason. Does your DM facilitate this? If so, she also needs to refuse to engage.

Really mean spirited to buy something just to annoy you. Perhaps your DM could house said piano?

windycuntryside · 23/12/2019 20:14

I wouldn’t do that no.
I’d say the piano is faulty, where did you buy it? get receipt and exchange. She will be none the wiser.
Your mum shouldn’t be shit stirring about your gdm deliberately irritating your dh.

Original poster
TheABC · 23/12/2019 20:24

Good call about the gift receipt. I might try that...

DM does not have the room at her house either. TBF, she is normally a lot better at resisting drama but the past month has been a non-stop whirlwind of medical emergencies for our elderly relatives and I think she just wanted a quiet visit without the arguments.

OP posts:
billy1966 · 23/12/2019 20:25

Do not allow the children to see it. Get it out of the house.

Your grandmother does not sound nice.

LiviaSoprano · 23/12/2019 20:27

Buy her one of those giant minging gnomes with its cock out.

Spaghettio · 23/12/2019 20:37

Regift it back to her? Then when she asks why, say it's just to piss her off!

Chunkers · 23/12/2019 20:38

Get her a humungous canvas of the whole family, but with DH in the foreground.

PicsInRed · 23/12/2019 20:40

Your poor husband.

windycuntryside · 23/12/2019 20:44

Framed photo of your dh . Grin

TrainspottingWelsh · 23/12/2019 20:50

Sell it and buy the dc something else.

It would be really childish to buy her a really large and equally unwanted gift as revenge. But you still absolutely must.

Perhaps a giant, brightly coloured garden ornament, preferably a singing one. A personalised wall mural, featuring only dp as she hates him.

Wakaranaihito · 23/12/2019 21:06

Don't buy her gifts from now on. Just get charity donations like Twinning your Toilet or Lend with Care. No one can complain. Good is done and they don't get something they can moan about.

Babybel90 · 23/12/2019 21:12

Just give it back to her for her birthday.

isseywith4vampirecats · 23/12/2019 21:16

im sure your grandmother would love to buy a goat or fresh water for an African village get her a subscription for something like this

CostcoFan · 23/12/2019 21:22

Do you have no furniture in your house then? I can’t imagine getting rid of a coffee table because a 6 year old ran into it. Fair enough you don’t want a toy piano but how on earth do your children manage in school or anywhere other than a padded room?

Milsplus3 · 23/12/2019 21:41

Sell it and buy a smaller child friendly keyboard if they know about it or just put the money towards something else. Have to agree with costcofan though seems a bit ott to get rid of furniture for that reason, but I wouldn’t keep anything in my house bought to annoy my oh.

Original poster
TheABC · 23/12/2019 22:52

Fair enough you don’t want a toy piano but how on earth do your children manage in school or anywhere other than a padded room?

@CostcoFan, I sometimes wonder!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheABC · 23/12/2019 22:55

A personalised wall mural, featuring only dp as she hates him.

Genius. Grin

OP posts:
TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 23/12/2019 23:27

I'd get rid of it now, before the wrapper even comes off. Is there a local toy library, nursery or playgroup that's got some space.

WireBrushAndDettolMaam · 23/12/2019 23:31

Definitely get rid. Stick it on FB market place now and then buy them something else tomorrow.