To be offended by this present from DP's mother?

[ShouldIBeOffended]

Before I start, yes I know this is not a serious problem in relation to coronavirus. I have been self isolating due to family having symptoms for the last 2 weeks and I really want to talk about something other than coronavirus so sorry if you think this is a first world problem.

I have been with DP 3 years. I do art and sell my work online. DP's mother has hated me since we got together. She thinks I'm not good enough for him because I've been married before and am divorced.

But anyway, it was my birthday the other day, and his mother sent me a £1.50 kids watercolour set from Hobbycraft. Literally said £1.50 on the front. And it was definitely for me as it said so on the card. Obviously I know she didn't have to get me a present but I feel like this is a definite snub. DP says she means well. AIBU to be slightly offended and wish she hadn't sent anything at all?

Oh yes, please please regift it right back to her. And rinse and repeat .

Think that's poor. But my partner had hos 50th yesterday and got nothing except a card for his. It's not like they are poor they are just miserly.

Wow! She really doesn't like you.....

I'd so give it back to her as her present on her birthday. You have to laugh at how blatent she is.

I think ways of thinking up revenge even if you don't actually carry it out could be good to take you through this particularly difficult period in history. So a “portrait” of her would be good. Or a pack of Brillo pads? Etc.

Have you read about grey rock? As in not responding etc.

Paint an unflattering portrait of her with it gift for Xmas.

Paint her portrait. Give it to her for her birthday.
You can make the portrait as ‘modern’ as you like.

If you regift-can you change the price-"reduced to 50p" for example?

Of course if you say anything, she was trying her best & being thoughtful as she knows that you paint

I'd be quite disappointed with a Dp who thought that this was "meaning well" tbh.

Paint her portrait

Yes...warts and all, remember

Yes!! Paint her a picture as PP suggested!!

I would definitely give her a text saying how much you love it and how thoughtful she is to get it for you.

You have to laugh about it. Give it to your niece, thank your mil effusively then get on line and start hunting for something to return the thoughtful gesture on her birthday.

Love the idea of painting her portrait, but if you’re at a level where you earn money from your work, it would probably be quite good. I’d go one better and paint your portrait, complete with frame and suggestions of where you think she should hang it!

Oh God - that's terrible, terrible behaviour, but it's funny as hell.
Sorry OP. The sheer level of pettiness; I just can't 😂
Um, maybe paint a super unflattering Picasso-esque portrait with her features in very odd places with the set, and gift it to her?

Another one for it being her Christmas gift!!!

Is there anything she prides herself on? Her baking, maths skills, cooking, knowledge of nature? - Buy her a child’s kit or guide to it for her next present. Preferably from The Works with a big fat “reduced” sticker.

"DP says she means well" - there's your problem for a start.

Paint a really bad picture of her with the watercolour set, framed and gush with joy when she opens it.

Don't paint her portrait - I think you should paint a portrait of you and your DP together, frame it beautifully and send that to her for Christmas

Think of it as a guide price for any presents you buy for her in the future.

"DP says she means well" - there's your problem for a start.

Yep, agree with this. Your DP needs to understand that his mother doesn't like you. If you get married/have DC he needs to be on your side, not hers. Because I'd bet her behaviour would ramp up sharpish in those situations, if she's being this petty now.

Propose to DP then paint a big, childish "Congratulations to us! We're getting married! We wanted you to be the first to know 😘" with a caricature of you and DP in an erotic embrace, using every cheap colour in the set. Roll it in a lovely piece of fabric and cherish her face as she unrolls it. Keep the fabric, obviously.

.Give it back for Christmas with the price tag.
Or use it to do a child-like painting of her, and give her that for Christmas

Mine got me some cellulite cream. I'd rather have the art set ☺️

Surely you’ll be using them to create a beautiful nude self portrait to give back to her framed so that it can be hung somewhere very visible lest she end up looking like an ungrateful botch?

That's the most glorious passive-aggressive thing I've ever heard of. Paint her a picture of your bare arse as a thank you card.

Yeah paint her picture Rubens or Picasso style

Whichever is likely to offend her the most

Paint her a picture of carefully arranged art supplies, including the set she gave you peeking out at the back. Present it to her for her birthday/Christmas/whatever with gushing thanks for her being so supportive of your painting and the hope that the picture will remind her of you.