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?

@FizzyGreenWater

Wow. Very eloquent. OP, just copy and paste that into a message to your DP.

Paint a beautiful photo with it and text her a photo. "Amazing what you can do with cheap supplies!"

Fizzy..wish you were my friend and around to chat to when I needed it.. Brilliant advice.

.OP..please paint a portrait and show us all!

Oh yes, OP.

Do paint a wonderful portrait of his mother using these stellar materials, show it to your DP and inform him you'll be sending it to her, and you fully expect him to defend you by insisting to his mother that you love her and absolutely 'mean well' when she goes ballistic

I know it's petty but do the same back to her on her birthday. O she likes baking? It's a postman pat kids cupcake packet. X

Honestly during a lockdown perhaps a child’s set was the best she could get? Not everyone knows about art.

As for her ‘hating you’ are you sure? People who hate you don’t bother with birthday gifts when they have the perfect excuse not to get you anything.

Joking aside, you repeating exactly the same to her sends just as clear a message to her as she's sending to you - which is probably quite a good move. It tells her, firstly, that you're onto her. Secondly, it gives her a poke right back between the eyes - bring it on love, I don't give a fuck and I'll give as good as I get.

If her birthday isn't for ages, a superb PA message about how excited you were to receive the gift and can't wait to use the materials would do very well :)

People who hate you don’t bother with birthday gifts when they have the perfect excuse not to get you anything.

Oh yes they do. They get gifts like this!

It’s a breath of fresh having a MIL thread to read again

She’s a bit of a twat I’d say

It might bring her pain if you actually used it, then said how thoughtful she was for it and be really gushy and mushy next time you see her, that'll get under her skin 😂

Kill it with kindness I think is the phrase

Can you paint your MIL as one of those little fat old ladies that are always in those pictures with 'humorous' slogans that people hang in their toilets?

OP, find a kids paint by numbers picture. Preferably a unicorn, or Paw Patrol. Paint it, in horrible colours. Really horrible. Paint people’s faces blue like smurfs, that sort of thing. Frame it. Voila! Her next milestone birthday present.

Yes definitely give it back for Christmas, but change the price tag to £10 then watch the confusion