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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:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/12/2021 20:51

How many presents will your family receive?

If it’s just you and Dh, lm afraid l wouldn’t even give it a passing thought.

userxx · 23/12/2021 20:56

@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.

You're fucking joking ? How utterly bizarre.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/12/2021 21:04

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

This is probably why she used glittery paper!

ancientgran · 23/12/2021 21:38

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

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

This is probably why she used glittery paper!

Good point.
Offmyfence · 23/12/2021 21:52

Go no contact, what other option do you have 🙄!

Shmithecat2 · 23/12/2021 21:58

@IKissedSantaClaus

You absolutely are allowed an opinion. However, expect to be called out it when you're criticising other people's environmentally unfriendly choices

'Called out' on having children? Jeezo.

It is possible to have children and care deeply about needless waste.

Again, you're either hard of thinking or being obtuse. No one is being called out for having children. They're being called out for being hypocrites.
Pottedpalm · 23/12/2021 22:01

@Octavi

Yes get a grip! If that's all you have to worry about you're bloody lucky.
This
ancientgran · 23/12/2021 22:12

Actually this is making me laugh, the thought of one of my kids coming to visit and inspecting the contents of my bin is just hilarious.

Hankunamatata · 23/12/2021 22:16

Our council is refusing to recycle wrapping paper - big signs this year

WomanStanleyWoman · 23/12/2021 22:19

I have a wonderful idea, OP. Save the glittery wrapping paper AND the recyclables you pull from MIL’s bin. Then, next Christmas, wrap the old milk bottles and bean tins as her present. That way you get to make another big point and make your MIL feel like shit at the same time. Great eh?

WomanStanleyWoman · 23/12/2021 22:33

@Tulipomania

Another Mumsnet pile-on at it's finest.

This site has become so horrible.

OP, have some Flowers and Brew from me.

Why is it, whenever there’s a near-consensus, someone pops up to dub it a ‘pile-on’ and tell everyone how horrible they are for daring to tell the OP they’re wrong. You know what? Sometimes an OP is just wrong and most people agree and say so.
IKissedSantaClaus · 23/12/2021 22:34

How is it hypocritical? Are you actually saying that anyone who has children cannot in any way criticise others for damaging the environment? Because a person has children it negates any valuable opinion they might hold about wastefulness. Really? So only a child free person can criticise someone for not being eco conscious without being a hypocrite. Or am I being hard of thinking...? I think I must be as I am struggling to understand how that makes any sense Hmm

Offmyfence · 23/12/2021 22:35

Why is it, whenever there’s a near-consensus, someone pops up to dub it a ‘pile-on’ and tell everyone how horrible they are for daring to tell the OP they’re wrong. You know what? Sometimes an OP is just wrong and most people agree and say so.

Agreed, but many on MN, see MIL so they must be instantly wrong!

PuzzledObserver · 23/12/2021 22:35

Exactly. Those who have taken offence to my reply are either genuinely hard of thinking or being deliberately obtuse. Difficult to know which one..

Didn’t take offence at your reply, but I did think it was suggesting a false dichotomy. Climate heroes, who do everything right (including not having children), or climate villains, who do it all wrong.

It doesn’t make sense to me to tell people who have children - which is most people, after all - that there is no point in them attempting to make their lives more sustainable because they’ve already blown it by having children. In a sense, they have more incentive than those without children to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, so there is still a planet for their children to live in.

ItsSunnyOutside · 23/12/2021 22:37

Dh needs to stop rooting in his mums bins!

Blimey, I feel sorry for your mil, she wrapped the presents in glittery paper most likely because she thought it looked lovely. Don't try and make her feel crap about this. You do your bit with recycling, that's great but she's just going to feel really shit if you make a big deal out of this and that's not fair.

Shmithecat2 · 23/12/2021 22:41

@IKissedSantaClaus

How is it hypocritical? Are you actually saying that anyone who has children cannot in any way criticise others for damaging the environment? Because a person has children it negates any valuable opinion they might hold about wastefulness. Really? So only a child free person can criticise someone for not being eco conscious without being a hypocrite. Or am I being hard of thinking...? I think I must be as I am struggling to understand how that makes any sense Hmm
It certainly does negate their position on criticising other people's actions that may harm the environment - especially something like wrapping paper Confused. Are you honestly saying that you don't think it does?
Shmithecat2 · 23/12/2021 22:43

@PuzzledObserver

Exactly. Those who have taken offence to my reply are either genuinely hard of thinking or being deliberately obtuse. Difficult to know which one..

Didn’t take offence at your reply, but I did think it was suggesting a false dichotomy. Climate heroes, who do everything right (including not having children), or climate villains, who do it all wrong.

It doesn’t make sense to me to tell people who have children - which is most people, after all - that there is no point in them attempting to make their lives more sustainable because they’ve already blown it by having children. In a sense, they have more incentive than those without children to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, so there is still a planet for their children to live in.

They can of course make their OWN lives more sustainable. Of course! But to be critical of someone else's choice of wrapping paper? Absolutely not.
IKissedSantaClaus · 23/12/2021 22:48

Of course not.

Hypocritical would be to criticise glittery wrapping paper whilst also using non-recyclable wrapping. Criticising someone for not being vegan whilst flying plants across the world to fulfil the vegan diet.

Having a child does not automatically render all of a person's opinions on the sheer wastefulness of others hypocritical. What an absolute bizarre and illogical perspective. Confused

Shmithecat2 · 23/12/2021 22:50

@IKissedSantaClaus

Of course not.

Hypocritical would be to criticise glittery wrapping paper whilst also using non-recyclable wrapping. Criticising someone for not being vegan whilst flying plants across the world to fulfil the vegan diet.

Having a child does not automatically render all of a person's opinions on the sheer wastefulness of others hypocritical. What an absolute bizarre and illogical perspective. Confused

Oh. So it's OK to cherry pick was is and isn't worthy of criticism wrt to environmental damage to suit your own agenda, is that what you're saying?
Goldilocks99 · 23/12/2021 23:30

whilst flying plants across the world to fulfil the vegan diet.

Yes, vegans being the only human beings who eat bananas, avocados and rice .
Meat eaters spontaneously combust on the consumption of a nana.

JudgementalRaccoon · 24/12/2021 00:56

@Goldilocks99

whilst flying plants across the world to fulfil the vegan diet.

Yes, vegans being the only human beings who eat bananas, avocados and rice .
Meat eaters spontaneously combust on the consumption of a nana.

Spontananaeous combustion Xmas Grin
JaneJeffer · 24/12/2021 01:14

Save it so that future generations can go to look at it in a museum and wonder at the marvellous glittery paper of yore.

gofg · 24/12/2021 06:29

I have a mil that’s writes gushy messages on the actual gift bag (not just the tag) to our ds who isn’t old enough to read anyway. Meaning the gift bag has to go in the bin and can’t be re used.

Oh the sheer horror! Is this really the worst thing you have to worry about?

There are some sanctimonious people on MN at the moment.

Offmyfence · 24/12/2021 06:32

I have a mil that’s writes gushy messages on the actual gift bag (not just the tag) to our ds who isn’t old enough to read anyway. Meaning the gift bag has to go in the bin and can’t be re used.

Christ what a PA bitch, go NC! 🙄

Draggondragon · 24/12/2021 06:39

Sad? Fuckinghell, that makes you sad? Refugees drowning, child poverty, the relentless and senseless child abuse going on to name a few makes a twee misuse of the word sad deeply offensive. This post makes me extremely smug that my old hummer does 9mpg Biscuit

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