Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to feel sad that MIL has wrapped presents in glitter paper?

617 replies

somehowsunshine · 23/12/2021 01:06

Can't recycle it. She knows we try really hard to recycle. We are always finding recyclable plastic in her general waste bin. My DH and I will have to bite our tongues on Xmas day as we scrunch the glitter paper into the bin. I know my husband will want to say something but it will make MIL feel bad and make us look ungrateful. I can't stand glitter!

OP posts:
winewolfhowls · 23/12/2021 08:34

Reuse as jolly bin liners, its what my granny used to do

Constance1 · 23/12/2021 08:35

Gosh OP of all the hills to die on, this one is bizarre. Just unwrap the presents carefully and recycle the paper for next year. Recycling doesn't just mean putting out in a box for the council to collect.

MWNA · 23/12/2021 08:35

@somehowsunshine

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling.
Your husband sounds like a fucking nightmare. How horribly infantilising!
Feelingoktoday · 23/12/2021 08:35

It might be wrapping paper from years ago. I have lots in the loft that I bought in the sales. Do you expect me to just throw it away and buy new paper. You are making a mountain out of a molehill. I hope you are not planning to buy your children any plastic tat that can’t be recycled.

Namechangehereandnow · 23/12/2021 08:37

OP … do you remove the sellotape from ALL wrapping paper before putting it in the recycle bin? As this can’t be recycled - it was on a programme the other day - any bins with wrapping paper are discarded into landfill as the sellotape contaminates it. Maybe you should think about your own recycling bin before you go through MIL’S bins and giving her a lecture 🙄 - unless of course you wrap all presents with recyclable string? ….. 🙄

Feelingoktoday · 23/12/2021 08:37

If your DH was my son I would leave a dildo in the bin. That would soon stop that nonsense of him checking her bin. You two sound such fun.

Tippexy · 23/12/2021 08:39

@somehowsunshine

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling.
Gosh, isn't he rude
Lilifer · 23/12/2021 08:40

The OP has gone very quiet - perhaps she has finally disappeared up her own arse 🤔

wildthingsinthenight · 23/12/2021 08:41

YABU. Poor woman. Leave her bin alone!
If this is all you have to worry about at this time of year then you are lucky!

crowsfeet57 · 23/12/2021 08:42

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling

If my adult children came round and policed my bin, I'd make sure there was plenty for them to find as well. What a pair of rude, sanctimonious prigs.

Maybe for New Years resolutions you could plan to leave your MIL's bin alone and get a hobby!

Fridgenomynous · 23/12/2021 08:42

Yawn. Nothing for the environment really makes a difference until China and India become environmentally friendly.

Spudlet · 23/12/2021 08:43

@somehowsunshine

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling.
Wow. Never mind feeling sad about the wrapping paper, I’d be feeling sad that I’d married someone like that, who thinks that it’s ok to treat his mother (and unless his father is not around, not sure why it’s all her fault either?) like that.
TheKeatingFive · 23/12/2021 08:43

Unwrap it carefully and reuse the paper. That's better than recycling it.

Bitofachinwag · 23/12/2021 08:43

Unwrap carefully and reuse.

MWNA · 23/12/2021 08:44

@Lilifer

The OP has gone very quiet - perhaps she has finally disappeared up her own arse 🤔
😅😅
Dguu6u · 23/12/2021 08:45

Why all the slating for OP who clearly cares about the environment? Recycling helps reduce our carbon footprint. You’re all showing incredibly selfish behaviour like anti-vaxxers. It’s fine for OP to be upset when other people just don’t give a shit.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 23/12/2021 08:48

Op I'm usually all for supporting dils in awful situations with their mils because it nearly destroyed my marriage and my in laws have been the only problems in my life since met dh.

My beautiful dm isn't with us anymore and never spent a single Xmas with my dc and never met them.
I'd have loved a Mil I could happily share the joy of my dc with but she's bitter, negative, uses presents as a weapon, will play the dc off agaisnt each other, she's funny about food, and cleaning and is just a miserable night mare to be around.

I guess my point is... This is a large issue to you but is it really important in the grand scheme of work things. I wish this is the worst thing my Mil did so we could spend Xmas with her.

I also find it really unfair that your going through her bin!
Nearly everyone has something that they feel passionate about but we don't all feel passionate about the same things which is good. Because we all care about different things that means cat charities get support, cancer charities... Some people care about disabled access, others about people with downs syndrome.
You care about recycling and the environment (and I hope to god you don't have a bloody real fire or log burner like my neighbours).

That's your passion and whilst I totally understand you want to save the planet.. I'm with you! But your Mil really isn't sending us all down the swanee. You need to re direct your frustration to China say every time she annoys you, tweet something to big businesses etc.
And enjoy the fact you do have a sweet lady who is caring enough to buy presents for your dc!

flossisboss · 23/12/2021 08:48

@Shinychestnuts

Don't blame your mil, blame the retailer who stocks it! Campaign to change people's perspective about it. But don't let your dh be rude to his mother about it on Christmas day!
This^

I worry about recycling, but what's dawned on me over the past year or two is that while us ordinary people are fretting about plastic and glitter and the right kind of paper on an individual level, corporate arses are actively churning more of the shit out and firing people like William Shatner into space just for fun. Now that makes me fucking sad.

OP, I can see that your mil using glitter paper is frustrating, but please don't be rude to her. She's just trying to do something nice at Christmas.

labazslovesliving · 23/12/2021 08:48

its sad you want to spoil her pleasure she took time to find a paper she liked and thought made her gifts look good it's one day one thing you can recycle other paper though if you wrapped my gifts in a newspaper I think I would be more annoyed and just think cheapskate

AstroBunny · 23/12/2021 08:48

@Dguu6u

Why all the slating for OP who clearly cares about the environment? Recycling helps reduce our carbon footprint. You’re all showing incredibly selfish behaviour like anti-vaxxers. It’s fine for OP to be upset when other people just don’t give a shit.
If she cares about the environment that much, why did she have kids, the worst offenders of all for the health of the planet?

Don’t be ridiculous. The OP is an environmental cherry picker.

She can reuse the heinous glitter paper 🙄

C8H10N4O2 · 23/12/2021 08:48

@somehowsunshine

DH tends to look through the top of his mums bin when we're round, and usually pulls out 5 or 6 plastic items or cans that can be recycled. Mil can't be bothered which really pisses us off! He does it to make a point of how much she must throw into landfill instead of recycling.
Dear gods, I've met enough men like your holier than though DH to be firmly team MiL.
AngelinaFibres · 23/12/2021 08:48

@Shmithecat2

YABU, and a massive hypocrite. Your children are more environmentally damaging to the environment than some glitter paper.
100% agree. Ridiculous virtue signalling. Get a grip
bevelino · 23/12/2021 08:49

We are all going to see some batshit posts over the next few days and this is just one of them.

RedHot22 · 23/12/2021 08:49

Poor MiL

SlashBeef · 23/12/2021 08:53

You're both so rude. Your husband sounds like a monumental dickhead. What kind of person rummages through their mothers bin like a judgemental raccoon?!