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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stop collecting?

90 replies

7yo7yo · 27/02/2020 23:39

A relative passed away a while ago. She had a set of 3 jewelled elephants, big, medium and small.
The family gave me the set as they remembered I’d liked playing with them as a child. All good, I put them on the landing window and they make me smile in memory of the relative (occasionally).
It seems I’ve started a collection by stealth. I’ve received several elephantastic items. A pillow with an elephant, a display plate, a blanket with a family of elephants, more “collectible” elephants, a thimble with an elephant and the latest is a fucking Pair of salt and pepper elephant shakers as well as a bag with elephants on etc.
I have no elephant affiliation at all. How do I stop this.
AIBU to not accept anything?
Has anyone else had a collection started by stealth?

OP posts:
Unsureconfused46 · 27/02/2020 23:44

Yanbu
Elephantastic made me laugh. Had a vision of piles of elephant related stuff around the place. Just be polite, accept stuff to save hurting anyone's feelings and donate to a charity shop!
Sorry for the loss of your relative

GinasGirl · 27/02/2020 23:51

Ah yes, this happened to my brother with badges and me with owls. I liked a tiny wooden owl given to me by a friend's mum which started quite the collection from family and friends. It culminated in my husband once sponsoring me a barn owl for a birthday and me being a bit ffs about it and so it stopped. It has now moved on to cows because I once laughed at a cute Cow in a field. I have a cow dressing gown, two key rings, a book and salt and pepper shakers ...

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/02/2020 23:57

Would it work if I decided that my new interest was diamonds, do you think?

cheeseball123 · 27/02/2020 23:59

When I became a cat parent, I had stern words with DM not to start buying me a ridiculous number of cat-related gifts for birthdays/Christmas. I had nightmares of living in some horrible cat shrine. So far she's doing well at remembering, and I only receive the odd cat mug/calendar/pair of socks that were "just TOO adorable"

Zhuleva · 28/02/2020 00:32

My mum had exactly the same thing with elephants. It’s an easy present for people when they think they know what you like. My mum can’t even remember saying anything that world trigger this, but still they come, stampeding on to her mantelpiece

DownUdderer · 28/02/2020 03:47

Fuck that! I’d be telling everyone to stop! What a waste. Who needs more chitter in the house?

DownUdderer · 28/02/2020 03:47

Clutter

JavaQ · 28/02/2020 07:37

Marie Kondo.....

TheMemoryLingers · 28/02/2020 07:44

"Oh, an elephant-themed ironing board cover - how lovely! Just to let you know for the future, I've decided to stop collecting elephant things now as I have so many, it's getting difficult to find room for them."

isseywith4vampirecats · 28/02/2020 08:22

I have gone through buying one Staffordshire china dog that spawned a collection that the day it took me three hours to take them off the shelf clean them and put back was the day they all went to a charity shop, then I bought a dolphin for the bathroom 40 dolphins later they went off to the charity shop , now its cats because I have cats and work for a cat charity the cat related stuff was taking over so I have culled the ornament collection and once again the charity shop has gained its fatal liking anything it gives rellies a good excuse to buy a I don't have to think about it present

hiredandsqueak · 28/02/2020 08:26

I like robins, I have been bought lots of robins thankfully I can put the majority of them away and bring them out at Christmas though.

5foot5 · 28/02/2020 08:27

When I was a child someone bought mega stamp album and a starter set of stamps. I had never expressed any interest in stamps but suddenly the word seemed to round that 5foot5 collected stamps and people started sending them.

My sister's landlady had a son in Belgium and she would regularly send me loads of Belgian stamps that were all the same. I mean, even if I was interested in stamps, why would I want dozens all the same? They were dull little buggers anyway.

The nice family over the road would ask me over for stamp afternoons where we could swap and stick things in. I wanted to tell them to take the lot, they were welcome to them.

Then of course I would get told off by my Mum because the stamps were puling up and I should get them in the album. It was years before I realised I was allowed to say I don't want anymore stamps. I am not interested in stamps. Please stop giving me stamps.

MumW · 28/02/2020 08:37

Just tell them that the specific elephants have specific sentimental value but you actually collect diamonds (as suggested by a previous poster) and the proliferation of other elephant tat is diminishing their value. Definitely do not use or display any of the elephant gifts and regift them back

Thirtyysomething · 28/02/2020 09:08

Thank you for this. Brightened up my morning 😂😂😂 This happened to my daughter, not quite the same extent but she liked goats (real ones) so family then decided everything goat related was a must, she even ended up with a goat birthday cake one year bought by her aunt - she was old enough to say enough goats now!

Unsureconfused46 · 28/02/2020 10:11

This has made me laugh so much 😂

WalkingDeadTrainee · 28/02/2020 10:32

It will NEVER stop.
My DM has a super large collection of china elephants. She hasn't bought a single one, nor she ever wanted one. She did, however, once "pretended" to love a present, china elephant bastard the first, and she is obviously a better actress than she realised 😂

labazsisgoingmad · 28/02/2020 10:35

my daughter hates cows almost phobic about them so it has become a family joke to get her cow items. she said her bday and crimbo is not complete without me her mum getting a cow item!
crimbo just gone i got her a stress squeezy cow she loved it!

Midorimomo · 28/02/2020 10:37

This reminds me of my grandmother who now has an obscenely large collection of china shoes. She said the only reason she keeps quiet is because it gives her a giggle that we'll have to deal with them when she pops her cloggs, pun intended (she's 91 and will probably outlive us all!)

lurker69 · 28/02/2020 10:51

my husband had a finger tash tattoo done when he was younger which has resulted in years of random moustache themed gifts, I think its quite funny that these mugs and tins are met by him looking rather miffed and asking me why people thinks he loves them so much. but in answer to your question Yanbu to put a stop to this elephant madness

PonteLaCorona · 28/02/2020 10:55

YABU because at least elephants are nice.
This happened to me with the bloody Me-To-You bear. (It probably has another name, but I don't care what it is )

That fizzled out on its own thankfully, but now my MIL thinks I love sheep... 🤦🏽‍♀️

I don't actually know how to solve the problem, sorry Blush

10FrozenFingers · 28/02/2020 10:55

I have an accidental owl collection. I feel your pain.

notanotherjigsawpiece · 28/02/2020 10:59

Haha this made me laugh Grin

I sort of did this to my mum - I started buying her owl-related stuff...... she didn’t say anything but I decided to stop in case she secretly hated it. I do love anything with hares, foxes and hedgehogs though so I wish people would start buying me these!

Member984815 · 28/02/2020 11:01

I have a collection of porcelain dolls in the attic that I dare not get rid of , I didn't want them in the first place but now I'm stuck with them

Feelingfestivenow · 28/02/2020 11:03

.....Pigs....never stopped for years, now its chickens..

AryaStarkWolf · 28/02/2020 11:05

hahahaha oh dear, how to address the Elephant in the room?