Grandma present to teenage grandson for his birthday

[wobblywinelover]

My parents have given my son £50, an unwrapped options hot chocolate she got from the supermarket on the way to my place, some mince pies (wrapped as a gift) and some fudge also wrapped. He's 15. She said she didn't want to get him too much food as she knows he struggles with his weight (why buy him food items at all then) I can't help but think that apart from the money this is a strange present for a 15 year old boy. She hasn't even wrapped the hot chocolate and it was shoved in the gift bag at the last minute. I know they weren't sure what to get him but I think just giving him the money or an xbox voucher would have been better. Mince pies?!! The other grandparents have bought him thoughtful gifts they know he will like, which are tailored to his interests. I'm prepared to be flamed for this but I'm just thinking 🧐 how odd. For added context they are not hard up for cash and I know its the thought that counts but I'm not sure what to make of this. What do others think?

My DM sometimes gives random gifts like this so I think it’s quite amusing on the whole, but I wouldn’t like the weight comment coupled with giving food.

I would assume he has enjoyed hot chocolate, pies and fudge at their's. I think it's thoughtful. Please don't comment and let him enjoy, even if he eats them all at once. It's his birthday!

Giving W box of mince pies is something I’d do as an extra present. I often do it with cheese straws for son, husband or FIL or Xmas puddings for mum.
Not sure I’d give a sachet of options hot chocolate but then I hate the stuff!
Does he like mince pies and hot chocolate? And £50 is a decent amount for a birthday

£50 and a few food treats is a lovely gift. I think you’re being a bit ungrateful!

LOL at mince pies - they might be a joke. We wrapped up a Pot Noodle from my brother once. £50 is great though - a very generous present and your child will be delighted!

They’re giving him £50 and treating him to a hot chocolate and mince pies. They’re probably expecting him to share them with his family and not eat all of them.
It may be something to be amused by but they sound kind and warm hearted.

What gifts did other people give him?

I think that sounds like a lovely generous gift from the Grandmother.

Sounds fine to me. The comment about the weight is a bit odd. But yeah it's £50 and then she's just found some food they thought he'd like.

For added context they are not hard up for cash that's why they've given him £50.

I think it may be a generational thing. MIL gives my teens money and is very generous but she doesn't feel like she's done enough if they don't have something "to open" on their birthdays!

It's often a variety of chocolates which always goes down well but she does the same at Christmas and it's becoming more difficult for her to know what to buy. Last year she bought a board game which has never been opened and this year will be re-gifted. She won't entertain gift cards as for her it's just like money. So it means I'm going to have to buy something suitable for her to wrap up-but that's a whole other issue!

A little eccentric, nothing wrong with it.

Just remember it fondly “remember when Gran gave you mince pies with your birthday present?” WITH 50 QUID? It’s amusing, stop being ungrateful.

Unless you give them ideas/list, this is what they thought he'd like.

Tbh, it gets on my nerves when everyone asks you what the DC want for their birthdays because then I have to think of extra gifts for them. My mil has stopped even buying it herself and now asks me to buy and wrap something from her.

I think £50 is brilliant. So she threw some additional bits in. Would it have been better if she'd thrown in some heroes or celebrations?

Sometimes in life, it's good to just be grateful. Not find fault in every action of people around you. And I see no problem giving him a gift of food even though he struggles with weight. Don't people with weight struggles eat? Have treats? It's not as if they bought him an annual subscription of mince pies and chocolate to be delivered every week.
Try reframing this as How lovely they gave him £50 to get a gift for himself, and hot chocolate and mince pies to warm him these nippy days? It will change your outlook and reduce stress.
I don't like gift wrapping (environmental waste that lasts seconds) so I won't comment

That sounds lovely. The money alone was enough. You sound a little ungrateful.

I think it’s a nice gift. We often buy those hot chocolate stirrers on a spoon to go with presents, or sweets or chocolate.

Mince pies are amusing, there must be a reason for that!

Money on its own is a bit dull so needs a little something cheap to open too.

I don’t really understand why you’re not pleased with it, what did you want them to buy?

I used to have an aunty who bought really odd things for presents. I remember my mum tutting every birthday & Xmas. But they're the childhood gifts I remember now (in my 50s) & I smile a lot at the memories. Makes me wonder if she was, as my mum would say, 'clueless'. Or if she was actually the most clued up & knew we'd remember her & her bizarre gifts long after she'd died. Great memories.

Does he love mince pies ?
I think the money was THE gift ...she went to supermarket ...saw mince pies and choc and thought oh my grandson loves those I'll get them for him as a treat ...

What's the issue? You son has £50 and a few nice treats he can either eat, share or leave.
It seems grandparents cannot do right for wrong on mnet. In future, give them ideas.

Hot chocolate is a lovely gift. My teens would be delighted to have their own jar! The money is very generous so nothig more was really needed. The weight thing is down to you and him, and shouldnt exclude him from having the odd treat.

What do others think?

I think what is the point of you posting, if you don't like the batshit extras then just take them out and he can have the £50 for his birthday. And I hope he's less entitled and more grateful than you are.

She may have thought the hot chocolate would be nice with the fudge and the mince pies that she randomly bought as a treat and not with the intention of sabotaging his weight.

Your whole post is comparing presents and what you think is right. You wanted more, hence the reference to them not being short of cash, and he doesn't even have to eat the pies. He can re gift them to your food cupboard.

I’d be over the moon with £50 as would my DC and I’d think the other goodies were cute. How ungrateful.

I hope your son doesn't share your attitude tbh.

One day she won’t be there and he’ll miss the random bits and bobs….and the cash!

Regarding the food and weight issue, doesn’t everyone have food treats on their birthday irrespective of their weight?
Surely it’s like Christmas, one of the days when you ignore your diet?