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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to not give SIL hand-me-downs?

29 replies

FlabbyFlam · 13/01/2022 17:43

She often comments as though its a bad thing that my kids have nice clothes. One of my DDs is less than a year older than hers and she 'bagsies' my DD's outfits while she's wearing them.

DD was born during the first lockdown and I had barely any newborn clothes and they were tricky to get hold of. There was also a family bereavement so online scouring wasn't my priority. Fortunately, I had a friend, who pretty much kitted me out with a newborn wardrobe.

This friend had a baby a similar time to SIL. I had a huge bag of baby clothes by this point to share between them - all good clothes in pristine condition. I gave the bag to SIL to choose some as her baby was first. I was then going to give the rest to my friend.

SIL was fully aware of this but she took the vast majority of them. I was a bit gutted but didn't make a fuss. I just bought my friend some more instead.

I've always bought things that I like and are good quality and I sell them on and put the money towards the next thing. I do buy second hand when there's something I really want. It's the way I've always been, I do it with my own clothes, my wedding dress, my furniture etc. I do it with certain kids items.

SIL did most of her baby things with hand-me-downs and charity shops, it's not a circumstances thing, she earns a decent amount. We're just very different. If she spots that we have something thats obviously expensive she comments and rolls her eyes.

I don't like the way she turns her nose up at the money I spend and then expects to directly benefit from it.

She's recently asked for two things. One is something we bought and the other is something PILs actually bought on our request when DD was born.

Am I obliged to give her what PIL bought? The plan would have been to sell on and put the money towards the next car seat.

OP posts:
KiloWhat · 13/01/2022 17:45

It's yours you cam do what you like and she sounds really grabby. I'd get DH to ask her to stop bagsying clothes and rolling her eyes.

Notmrsfitz · 13/01/2022 17:45

No, it’s nice to pass some things on but simply say, I’m selling this when she’s grown out of it, do you want first shout?.
If she doesn’t,someone else will buy it.

If she was struggling or hard up then it might be different but not in this case.

Houseplantmad · 13/01/2022 17:46

I would give her whatever PIL bought - let them know she asked for it. Anything else, tell her to jog on.

AnneLovesGilbert · 13/01/2022 17:47

She’s a cheeky cow. Next time she tries to bagsy something your DD is wearing tell her not to be so ridiculous.

Obsidiansphere · 13/01/2022 17:49

CF! I wouldn’t give her any of it.

errnerrcallnernnernnern · 13/01/2022 17:49

No, don’t give her anything else.

And you shouldn’t have expected her to be fair when choosing from the items, she sounds like a CF.

Don’t let her rinse you again.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 13/01/2022 17:52

Why?

Why are you putting her ahead if you and your own kids?

Whatever you have us yours. Sell whatever you want, buy whatever you want. And tell her to pull back her open hand or you'll bite it.

But mostly tell her to piss off expecting so much from you.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 13/01/2022 17:53

Give her nothing. Cheeky mare. Next time she "bagsies", just laugh & say when dc has outgrown it I'll let you know how much I'm selling it for.

Chippychipcrisps · 13/01/2022 17:55

Her attitude isn't great and it's an annoying situation to be in but it won't always be this way. Kids don't grow out of clothes as quickly as they get older (like 5+)- you might find that you have nothing to give as both kids will be wearing the same age range and by the time your child has grown out of them, they will be slightly too small for hers anyway.

JanuaryBluehoo · 13/01/2022 17:55

Telly her no.

You are saving special items to be made into cushions or toys later with some of of the their fabrics.

JanuaryBluehoo · 13/01/2022 17:56

And no. Your not obliged to give her anything. You are teaching her she can keep asking by saying yes.

I would just say its annoying please stop asking.

Getyourjinglebellsinarow · 13/01/2022 17:59

No. She's slagging you off for having nice things then expecting you to give her those nice things.
Don't even humour it. How does she even "bagsie" stuff? Without sounding like an incredibly rude brat?! When she tells you she wants stuff just say "sorry I sell things on so I can afford to buy DD nice things. I can't afford to give you them." Or just tell her where they're from and leave her to it.

LakieLady · 13/01/2022 18:01

She's a grabby cow.

Tell her you're going to sell the thing PIL's bought and put the money towards a car seat, tell her the price you want for it and give her first refusal. Although I might be minded to quote a price rather higher than I think it might fetch, just ... because you can, really.

I think a lot of people who are comfortably off can be really grabby, I guess that's how they got to be comfortably off.

Chely · 13/01/2022 18:02

Fuck that. She is very cheeky.

My SIL asked me if I'd kept baby clothes one day, I replied yes pretty much everything. She said well I know where to come when we have a baby (they were ttc) and I said NO! rather fast 🤣. We have had another baby since then so needed the clothes we had in storage, they haven't got pregnant yet though.

Sideswiped · 13/01/2022 18:03

'Sorry, I've already promised it / them to X'. Insert name of your choice.
Say it every single time until she gives up asking.

ChargingBuck · 13/01/2022 18:06

Am I obliged to give her what PIL bought?
No. They were given to you, They are yours to do what you wish with.

I've always bought things that I like and are good quality and I sell them on and put the money towards the next thing. I do buy second hand when there's something I really want. It's the way I've always been, I do it with my own clothes, my wedding dress, my furniture etc. I do it with certain kids items.
Please believe this is meant kindly - but are you aware how much you are justifying your own way of providing your kids' clothes?
There is no need for you to do that!
Is it because SiL makes you feel 'wrong' by giving you snarky, but 'plausibly deniable' attitude?

Don't give her any more clothes that you do not want her to have.
Next time she 'bagsies' an item, tell her "no can do, it's already promised elsewhere."
I'd be tempted to tell her I thought she disliked the clothes anyway, as she rolls her eyes at them so often, so why would she want them? - but, given that you felt unable to prevent her from swiping clothes you didn't want her to take, that may be a step too far for you right now ..

But I do hope you work on your assertiveness & stop concerning yourself with SiL's judgement. You might enjoy this book -
www.amazon.co.uk/Woman-Your-Own-Right-Assertiveness/dp/0704334208?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 13/01/2022 18:11

I just bought my friend some more instead.

Why would you do that?

Stop worrying yourself with your SIL and your friend's clothes for THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

Brigante9 · 13/01/2022 18:36

Give her nothing. If she ‘bagsies’ something, tell her no, you’re selling it/keeping it for X mate. She’s a cheeky cow.

Bintymcbintface · 13/01/2022 18:43

Next time she tries to bagsie things smile politely and tell her where you got it. You aren't obliged to give her anything and she sounds cheeky as hell claiming your things without being offered in the first place

changeyourname11111 · 13/01/2022 18:50

Don’t give her anything. You are not obliged to give her anything. She sounds rude and interfering.

thickthighs73 · 13/01/2022 18:53

You don’t have to give any excuses or reasons, just say NO

Howshouldibehave · 13/01/2022 19:01

How exactly does she ‘bagsy’ things? If you tell us what she says, we can help think of some good replies!

I wouldn’t give her any of it on principle.

Christmas1988 · 13/01/2022 19:02

My SIL does this, but then I found out she sells them on! Now I give her a few bits but mostly give the others away to people that really need them. Id tell your SIL you’re saving some of the things in case you have another baby or just holding on to them for sentimental reasons.

Cattitudes · 13/01/2022 19:04

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

I just bought my friend some more instead.

Why would you do that?

Stop worrying yourself with your SIL and your friend's clothes for THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

The way I read it was that friend had already given OP most of those clothes in the first place. I assume either new or friend had a baby first and gave clothes to OP then friend had a second baby. OP wanted to reciprocate.

I would just promise things ahead to people. The PIL gift is slightly more of a grey area. It partly depends if PIL have given something of similar value to the SIL. Assuming that they treat you roughly equally then just say that you planned to sell it for car seat but if she wants to give you the money it will be X or if birthday coming up then maybe you can give it to DN as present and put money you would have spent on DN present towards car seat.

Skeumorph · 13/01/2022 19:07

Say ok if it shuts her up, then give or sell, oh sorry I totally forgot you asked for that, I had to sell it in the end. If thta's easier than a NO.