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Original poster

To hope ds (8) changes his mind about my birthday present!

117 replies

listsandbudgets · 16/08/2020 19:32

Don't get me wrong I'm touched he's thinking about my birthday next month and I'm sure I will love whatever I end up with but this is not quite what I had in mind

Me what would you like to do tomorrow?
ds go with dad to buy your birthday present
me there's no need to worry about that love
ds but I saw an amazing powder for cleaning mugs on a youtube advert and I want to get you that.

How do I very gently lead my lovely boy to the idea mum prefers chocolate to mug cleaning powders? Smile

Obviously whatever gets me he will get a huge hug and big thanks and I will use it

OP posts:
Angelina82 · 16/08/2020 22:57

Oh God he’s only 8, let him buy you the cleaning stuff, smile and say thank you and you can laugh about it in a few years time when he’s seen the light and has started buying you chocolate.

Feelingconfused2020 · 16/08/2020 23:03

He's going to be looking forward to seeing how happy you are with your sparkling mugs!

Oh bless his little heart.

PigletJohn · 16/08/2020 23:06

Let him get you whatever he wants.

When I was 4 I threaded some wool through a piece of carboard for my dad. I thought I'd made him a lovely embroidered mat.

I found it among his things when he died.

WorraLiberty · 16/08/2020 23:11

When my brother was 9 years old, I'll never forget the excited look on his face as he handed my mum her Christmas present.

And I'll also never forget the bemused look on hers, as she opened it to find 6 neatly wrapped carrots! Grin Confused

He's 53 now and we still take the piss Grin

cdtaylornats · 16/08/2020 23:22

We had a guy in his first job and he wanted to buy his mum a hoover for her birthday. We tried various arguments and couldn't get through to him. Our boss cracked it by saying "Well I suppose you can come to ours for Christmas Dinner"..

WeAllHaveWings · 16/08/2020 23:29

Hope he gets his dad a hanging dishwasher lemon fragrance for his birthday as an equally glamorous gift.

CharityDingle · 16/08/2020 23:37

@whereistherum

DS once bought me a lego set for my birthday.

He did a very good job in building it

I love this! Grin
coronafiona · 16/08/2020 23:44

Treasure it forever. My son gave me some daisies out of the garden I will never let them go Daffodil

AGnu · 16/08/2020 23:47

My 9yo is really into "recycling." Unfortunately, his idea of recycling is taking random bits of cardboard & plastic out of the actual recycling & sellotaping it together to make "useful" or "pretty" things that are neither useful or pretty. My birthday's coming up in a few weeks & he's already making enquiries about what sort of thing I'd like that could be made out of cardboard... Apparently he can't make chocolate, I did ask! Grin

Lexilooo · 16/08/2020 23:47

Lol one year for Christmas my little sister bought everyone a toothbrush and face cloth.

She got the hang of buying decent presents eventually

maddening · 16/08/2020 23:48

Use his you tube account to look up things you love so he gets some mummy appropriate adverts 😂

macaroniinapot · 16/08/2020 23:49

I gave my mum this yesterday, weird coincidence!

It wasn't for an occasion though and was related to a conversation we had Blush

Jux · 17/08/2020 00:05

Your dh does it by taking him to all the wrong shops so "gosh they haven't got it here"...... Then he starts talking about things mummy might like instead.

nokidshere · 17/08/2020 00:07

Good god, let him buy the powder. He's 8 and he's thought of something himself. That's really sweet.

I've had lots of weird and wonderful presents from children over the years. 2 memorable ones were a bag of Walkers Thai Chilli crisps chosen by a 3 yr old mindee and a corgi rolls Royce from another. My own two boys are now in their 20s and are brilliant present buyers despite having bought some hilarious ones over the years.

AlannaOfTrebond · 17/08/2020 00:10

My younger brother once bought our severely asthmatic mother a harmonica.

The gum ball dispenser prefilled with 100 balls of chewing gum that he bought her was another highlight. Neither of us had ever been allowed gum, although in hindsight that may have been his plan...

MulticolourMophead · 17/08/2020 00:22

@Cuteypye

Last year, for my Birthday, my dgd got me a pack of 4 toilet rolls. Dd and sil were killing themselves laughing, when she gave me them. I however thought that’s the joke present, wonder what the real one is? No, no real present, just toilet rolls. I was not impressed, especially as sil’s dm and dsd both got expensive bottles of gin and taken out for dinner. My birthday is in June, so this year I got nothing, because of Covid! However the dsd, whose birthday is also in June was taken out for a meal as soon as lockdown was lifted.

There is no back story, we normally get on really well. I help with babysitting dgds and have their dinner ready when they come home from work when babysitting. However when it comes to birthday presents, my dh normally gets sfa, and I get whatever crap they can see in Tesco!

I'd withdraw from babysitting and cooking for them. They're taking you for granted. Time to remind them you're not an appliance.
Getoutofbed25 · 17/08/2020 00:35

My children aged about 3&4 bought me some Vanish Carpet cleaner for my birthday one year! We do f even have carpets Hmm They had seen it in TV and were sure I’d really love it. To be fair it’s one of my most memorable birthday gifts!

MrsToothyBitch · 17/08/2020 01:05

I'd just ignore his suggestion and give some proper present ideas to someone with actual buying power like your mum or your DH. Let them tell him what he's buying you. Point out that he gets what he wants or asks for because you listen and care- so he should extend you the same courtesy. If he really wants to surprise you, give him a pick of 3 or 4 pre approved items. Life's too short to suffer crap gifts and being a good giver is an art which should be learnt.

We do surprises (and I adore choosing presents) but they're secondary to lists/requests in our family, reall . I'd rather not waste my money on something if I know there's an item that someone wants or needs instead really. Plus knowing the sort of stuff someone usually chooses/likes/requests/needs actually better informs my surprise choices.

PinkPonyTail · 17/08/2020 08:46

Why are people cleaning mugs with bleach?

You have a cup of tea or coffee, wash the mug and it looks clean again.

Are you supposed to clean mugs with bleach or similar as well? Confused

Fishfingersandwichplease · 17/08/2020 09:06

I have asked my DH for a robovac for my birthday, hmm maybe l should have set the bar a bit higher!! But bless your little lad, he has really thought about that and it is the thought that counts!

QueenofLouisiana · 17/08/2020 09:13

@TheFormerPorpentinaScamander I just want to smoosh your son at that age- wanting to buy mummy something that would make her as happy as the lady in the advert. That’s gorgeous!

MikeUniformMike · 17/08/2020 09:22

@PinkPonyTail, because mugs look really grotty if you drink tea and wash the mugs in a dishwasher or don't rub them if you wash by hand.

You can use bleach or washing powder to get them stain free.

BikeRunSki · 17/08/2020 09:32

Bicarb is good for removing tea stains.

EatsShootsAndRuns · 17/08/2020 09:44

My daughter was about the same age when she announced that ”mummy loves doing housework”

I looked at her and then my now-ex said ”DD. Do you like doing schoolwork?”

”No”

”Why do you do it?”

”Because you have to”

”now think about why mummy does housework”

Long silence.

”oh”.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 17/08/2020 10:44

@Jux

Your dh does it by taking him to all the wrong shops so "gosh they haven't got it here"...... Then he starts talking about things mummy might like instead.
I bet he’d be really disappointed not to be able to get his mum the thing he’s set his sights on. It’s not like he needs to be taught to choose what the recipient likes - he really thinks his mum will love this!