MIL & the nursery rug

[Sunshine1996]

I know I’m going to sound like a completely ungrateful bitch but MIL has bought a rug for the nursery and it is not to my taste at all. I adore my MIL, it is her first grandchild and she is so excited which is lovely. It’s not even something I could stash away as she comes round often. I realise this isn’t really a huge problem but I’m 36 weeks pregnant and very hormonal 😂 it clashes completely with her room, just a rant really.

Who designs this shit?

^^

People who know that some people will buy it?

OP isn’t a child. She doesn’t have to smile and just say ‘thank you’ because a grown up bought her a present. She’s allowed to not like it and not want to put it in her house!

I would put your own rug in the nursery and keep this rug rolled up in a cupboard. When MIL comes over bring it out and use it as a playmat in the living room.

@KarenMarlow3

Think yourself lucky. While DH and I were on honeymoon, my MIL kindly decided to redorate MY kitchen in MY new house, as a wedding present. I hated it but had to live with it for a few years until we coul legitimately redecorate.

A£17 rug is one thing, but a whole kitchen???

Jesus, why do people do this crap? ASK what they'd like.

Mind you it's also why I'm utterly crap at buying presents!!

It's irrelevant what anyone thinks if it, except the OP!!

@Sunshine1996

I hate anyone buying things for my home, I think think it's so rude to impose your taste on others.

I think you should tell her it's lovely, but not realky your thing and that you have one picked out/don't want one, but could she swap it fir xyz & if not could it be baby's play rug at her house?

Otherwise you're going to keep getting stuff like this that you don't like!

What bothers me most is the way the text isn't even centred properly 😅

I agree with those saying it's a trip hazard. If you're a FTM you can easily get away with being overly cautious and say you read an article about how dangerous rugs are and you wouldn't forgive yourself if something happened now that you've read that!

I don’t own that rug or anything similar, but I’m still amazed at the number of people who are calling it hideous, shit, god-awful etc. I can’t help thinking that some of you must have led rather sheltered lives, if a neutral-coloured rug (featuring the moon, stars and quotes from a famous children’s book) triggers such strong reactions.

I can’t tell you how stylish my DD’s multicoloured, jungle-themed, wipe-down playmat is, but don’t worry, I promise never to post a photo.

My MIL is very nice but I have had to ask my husband to gently explain that I don't like it when people buy things for my home. I want to choose the way my home looks, not have it filled with random things other people have chosen. I would get your DH to do the same, otherwise it will be one thing after another.

Maybe one reason I’m defending it is that many toddlers LOVE the moon and stars, mine included.

@KarenMarlow3

Think yourself lucky. While DH and I were on honeymoon, my MIL kindly decided to redorate MY kitchen in MY new house, as a wedding present. I hated it but had to live with it for a few years until we coul legitimately redecorate.

Only on MN would you hear this.

Unbelievable.

The vanity and pure selfishness to do this.
Absolutely nothing generous in this act.

I like it! If I lived near you I'd take it off your hands

My view on things like this - if someone feel entitled enough to buy a large decorative thing for your home without asking or letting you choose, then it's a good idea to politely decline to get across the message that no, YOU choose your decor, thanks.

I still think the rug is awful. However, I'd rather have a nice MIL who has bad taste in rugs than a bad MIL with good taste.

You do also know, don't you OP, that the baby won't give a toss what his/her nursery looks like, and that there is no reason for you to get hung up on everything being perfect/tasteful etc. None of my DC had a designated 'nursery' - they were in the carrycot in our room when they were little, then graduated to a proper cot in our room after the first few weeks, then we moved the cot to a spare room close to ours so we could hear them easily, until they finally moved into a bed in their own bedroom at 2ish. XH and I never discussed where they were going to sleep - it just seemed obvious that they would be in our room (never in our bed, though!)

Oh dear, it isn't very nice is it?
Definitely put it under the cot 'to protect the carpet' preferably face side down

Oh crikey, this has taken me back to my mil! Totally overwhelmed me in pregnancy with wanting to take over everything, she wanted to decorate the nursery, make curtains, make duvet covers and bedding, knit all clothes, buy all clothes, it was constant “I’ve bought all this so that you don’t have to” and I wanted to scream “but it’s MY baby and I hate YOUR taste”.... luckily I didn’t because the problem was definitely exacerbated by hormones. I just said “oh I’ve got that, ordered that, sorry” or “yes of course you can buy x, we’ve seen one we like and I’ll send you the link to the online shop to save you going out”.

Personally I would either talk to your partner and get them to say they hate it (mine is great for this and far more brutal than me)...or put it out for the first visit and the say “oh MIL, I’ve tripped over the rug twice on the night feeds, I’m soooo tired, I’ve had to put it away, I feel terrible about it after you treated us, I do hope you aren’t offended”.

The most important thing here is that she is your future babysitter and the relationship must be preserved 😂

it will be perfect for baby to sit on in the garden in the summer.....

Jesus, all this fuss over a rug. It will save the flooring when baby pukes/wees/poos on it , you could use it outside next year as a playmat.
There really are some precious weirdos on here these days.

I'd keep it downstairs rolled up as a playmat, it'll soon get covered in blocks and toys then when it's not in use you can roll it up

Lovely! Please send it to me and I will pay postage. I will leave it to you to explain to you MIL....Just joking but not joking

I've got a novel idea - how about thank this lady for her gift and dont hurt her feelings . Controversial!

Pretty sure a nasty poonami will happen on it sooner rather than later ;)

Change the baby on it a few times and there's bound to be a massive yellow poo stain you can't get out and can legitimately get rid of it without hurting her feelings. Or just use it for nappy changes to save your carpet. The stuff I bought for the nursery for my first that got ruined within a month by the champion vomiter and projectile poo! 🤣

It’s a bet long can it fit in a hallway outside the nursery make an excuse that you like it there better maybe , or a deliberate accident something that won’t clean up

YANBU, the rug is awful. She should have asked you to help choose a rug. Very difficult to say you don’t like it though

Tell her it's very kind, but perhaps would be best kept at her house?

You could keep it and use it as a rug to keep the carpet/other rugs safe. There will be LOTS of spillage and sick, pee etc.