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?

@gerispringer

My MiL can beat this for random gifts- she gave my DD a ball of elastic bands dropped by the postmen which she had collected over the year, another time it was last years diary someone had given her - “the days are wrong but you can still use it”, an ashtray and a can of Stellar to my adult Ds( “for his visitors “ - he doesn’t smoke/drink) , occasionally a Sainsbury’s £10:gift card but usually no money - that would have been welcome! We still laugh about it.

Haha 😂 you win the Internet today

You sound really ungrateful

@gerispringer

My MiL can beat this for random gifts- she gave my DD a ball of elastic bands dropped by the postmen which she had collected over the year, another time it was last years diary someone had given her - “the days are wrong but you can still use it”, an ashtray and a can of Stellar to my adult Ds( “for his visitors “ - he doesn’t smoke/drink) , occasionally a Sainsbury’s £10:gift card but usually no money - that would have been welcome! We still laugh about it.

This made me laugh out loud! A ball of elastic bands dropped by the postmen! I just cant stop laughing. Your MIL has given me the gift of a wonderful start to the day. Am glad you have the kindness and humour to laugh about it. So they were gifts that keep giving! after all Pssst...Now whisper the truth, did it make you angry at the time?

Of course we're grateful for their generosity

You don’t sound very grateful. In fact, you sound jaw droppingly ungrateful and incredibly bloody rude simply because their gifts aren’t what you would have bought and don’t meet your standards of being good enough because they could be picked up in the weekly shop. Your in laws may well have bought him gifts tailored to his interests, but there are very few 15 year olds who wouldn’t be interested in £50. She’s given him a really generous cash gift, so why are you so hung up on the tiny bits she’s given him to go with it? You might be claiming it’s all to do with his weight but, if that were the case, why would you even mention that they could be picked up in a weekly shop and the hot chocolate sachet being unwrapped and in the bottom of the bag?

Perhaps she wanted to get him something to open without spending a whole load more money and just panicked because she knew whatever she bought would be scrutinised and critiqued by the Birthday Present Police?

Also, he’s 15 years old. Barring age inappropriate gifts, is it really any of your business any more?

My dd would be happy with anything from her GP's but they aren't around anymore.

My grandma brought me a ABC book aimed at toddlers when I was 13. She was senile at that time in life though. Personally I'd be chuffed with £50 and some goodies.

My teens would have been delighted. Dont overthink it

Ah well, better that than a crocheted tea cosy...

My gran would do this. He's got his main present of 50 which is a very generous amount, he'll be able to buy something very nice with that and she's popped some treats in a bag too. He likes them as you said you'd buy them for him at other times. What would you have preferred for him instead? I think it sounds nice.

My DC ASkS for that similar to that combination from DGPs for birthdays and Xmas ! It's a late teenager thing...

Money + Fanta cans+ hot chocolate powder + Eccles cakes + chocolate + quavers crisps

I know it seems a strange combination but teen DCs like to have their own stash of favourites foods that they don't have to share with their siblings. It's a being in a big family thing. I take it in turns to buy everyone's favourites but it's shared so they only get a 1/5 in their eyes.

My Dteenagers also don't like the toiletries, make up, perfume that DGPs buy they prefer money to buy their own favoured brands , so DTeens dropping hints asking Nan and Grandad about their favourite snacks does get things they'll want and use!

Sounds good to me; some people feel money on its own isn’t enough, they want to give something to open or have now. They probably saw the hot chocolate in the supermarket and it was an impulse buy. Not wrapped??? Shocking!
You are overthinking this!

50 is very generous

I agree the food items are odd

If we want mince pies I buy them, they aren't a luxury or a gift.

@VividGemini

What's the issue with the hot chocolate? Was she actually supposed to have wrapped it?

It was shoved on the bag last minute as an afterthought I think. Options hot chocolate. Not even the nice stuff. I know I sound ungrateful but it just feels so lazy. My son is already on his guard with them over a couple of negative comments which have been made to him. Maybe just a small box of celebrations with the money would have been enough. But nevertheless I will remind my son to be grateful for whatever unusual presents he receives. Thanks for all the opinions so far

I’d also say that as far as mine are concerned the worst gift they could be given is a toiletries gift set. I know that sounds ungrateful but not even the 21 year old likes the lynx stuff so that gift goes straight to the Salvation Army collection.
They’d rather have a few quid in a card than a gift set.
I have a friend whose teen got toiletry gift sets from every single one of his aunts on both sides one Christmas- 6 lynx gift sets. She said it showed they couldn’t be bothered to think about what he would like whereas she’d put some effort into choosing things for their DC.
But no teen in my experience would think £50 was a poor gift!

I’m not sure why people are piling on here. There’s also a lot of assumptions. You do t sound ungrateful to me, just confused by the randomness (especially combined with the weight comment).

Do they usually give random gifts? Does your son love all those food items / so they are treating him rather than picking a seemingly strange combo of foods? Either of these would explain their actions. Otherwise, I agree it seems strange.

Most teens prefer money rather than presents. They can choose exactly what they want then.

Both grannies have been giving money to my two since they were about 14. But neither granny can leave it there & there has to be something for them to unwrap on the big day. This has led to several rather random things over the years, but the kids live it - definitely part of the traditions of the day now!

We'd have a smile over the food items and probably my teens would be quite happy with them after being a bit surprised.

OP, my parents don't give my dds ANYTHING for Xmas, just cards. It's really sad.

I think some people like to give a present that can be opened and since she was giving money went for this. Sure chocolates are more conventional.

On the weight issue some people are just clueless about helping and just don’t think. It’s also a one off special occasion

@gerispringer

My MiL can beat this for random gifts- she gave my DD a ball of elastic bands dropped by the postmen which she had collected over the year, another time it was last years diary someone had given her - “the days are wrong but you can still use it”, an ashtray and a can of Stellar to my adult Ds( “for his visitors “ - he doesn’t smoke/drink) , occasionally a Sainsbury’s £10:gift card but usually no money - that would have been welcome! We still laugh about it.

😂 my DTs would have gone wild for the ball of elastic bands! They went in a class trip to a sorting office once and all came back with a ball made of elastic bands picked up from the floor. Such excitement! 😂

Sorry OP but you are overthinking this. The main gift is the money, £50 is very generous. The other bits are just add ons that he would like. My mum often gets kids chocolates/biscuits/crisps when she visits because she knows the kids like them and that I restrict them! I think they have been thoughtful here.

Sorry op but what a pointless thread you've created. The gave money. Other random bits is fine. Who cares if it's not wrapped. I don't half the time wrap anything as it's a waste of paper going in the bin. It's not the end of the world. They don't need to put so much thought into giving a gift. Also buying for boys is way harder so I really don't blame them

People do weird things at Christmas.

@Pippi1970

We'd have a smile over the food items and probably my teens would be quite happy with them after being a bit surprised.

OP, my parents don't give my dds ANYTHING for Xmas, just cards. It's really sad.

That is very sad 😔

@waternfire

Sorry op but what a pointless thread you've created. The gave money. Other random bits is fine. Who cares if it's not wrapped. I don't half the time wrap anything as it's a waste of paper going in the bin. It's not the end of the world. They don't need to put so much thought into giving a gift. Also buying for boys is way harder so I really don't blame them

Of course it isn't pointless! That's quite a mean thing to say!

mince pies are odd
hot chocolate - if he likes it - is nice