Unwanted gift etiquette and the giant dinosaur

[LavenderSweetPea]

So basically, in the mail yesterday we received a 6ft inflatable, light up Christmas dinosaur from MIL.

DH and I both agree we really really don't like it - it's very much not our style (or the style of the people in our neighbourhood either judging by last years christmas decorations). It's an outdoor thing so the only place it could go would be directly outside the front of the house.

Usually, when getting a gift you don't like, obviously you smile, say thank you, pretend you do like it but then either put it away and dont use it or donate/regift it if appropriate. Unfortunately we aren't going to be able to do that because we've already got a text asking to see a picture of it up (it's not even December so I figure we've got at least a few days to kick that can down the road) and MIL lives locally so comes round to us all the time so will know if we don't have it up throughout December. She's also spending Christmas with us and staying for 5 days so I don't see the normal 'we love it' and then putting it away forever is going to work here.

We don't want to offend, but at the same time I really don't want a 6ft inflatable dinosaur outside my house from now until NY, environmentally it seems incredibly wasteful to accept a giant plastic gift that's ultimately going to landfill. Added to that I'm 7 months pregnant and cba with additional christmas decs to take down right before my due date.

I have said DH needs to politely speak to MIL and explain that it was kind of her to think of us, but unfortuantely it's really not our sort of thing and can we take it back to the store for her and get her her money back for it (she's not awash with cash so I really don't want her to waste her money on this). DH said we should put it up, send her a picture and that claim a few days later that high winds etc damaged it and take it down, but I feel that she might buy us another or insist we return it for a replacement if it's not withstood normal weather conditions, plus I'm a terrible liar!

What do you all think? (ps. Yes I know this is ridiculous)

Looking at the picture, I can see the problem. One of those big Christmas dinosaurs standing all on its own looks a bit odd.

What you really need is another one, so you can pose them standing guard around a central figure - maybe an 8-foot inflatable Christmas Dalek (if there's one on offer this year).

She has made an error. It is not Christmasaurus. It should be Dinovember. He unfortunately needs putting away tomorrow.

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A lot of people seem to envy you this dinosaur @LavenderSweetPea * - perhaps you could auction it off via MN and buy yourself something nice.

*I am not among this clamouring throng

Do you have a child that likes dinosaurs? If so put it up, if not this is a bizarre gift to send you and I’d say it’s not in keeping with yours or the neighbours style, but if she likes it maybe she would like to put it in her garden

@Fieldofbrokenpromises ‘wiped out by meteor strike’ / ‘gone to live on a farm’ - these made me laugh!

Is there an option for putting it in the back garden for the children in the family when they visit? Have it deflated the whole time until they visit.

This is one for Mumsnet Classics........

Honestly what have dinosaurs got to do with Christmas.

Being kind, your MIL is excited about new GC coming soon and getting ahead of herself. Indulge her, let DH put dinosaur up for the time she is visiting then quietly put it away for the next 2 or 3 years. Your toddler will love it. And do not worry what the neighbours think - who cares? They can mutter and chuckle about it.

I promise it will bring joy. Our last Christmas before DCs we had a tastefully lights-only tree ( warm white!) and some beautiful mistletoe that had been delicately gilt- touched on the leaves. Now … well …let’s just say the aesthetics have broadened somewhat, and dinosaurs definitely played a role in our lives for some years (though never that epic!). I promise it could well be a fast pass to a three year old’s nirvana. I’d stick it in a cupboard for now. And as someone who used to roam the neighbourhood at afternoon nap time jiggling the pram and singing “horsey horsey don’t you stop” at full volume because it was the quickest path to a sleeping 18 month old, I promise you won’t give a damn what the neighbours think by then.

Get the neighbours involved. Put it up, take a picture, then get all the neighbours to sign a letter of complaint saying it spoils the look of the neighbourhood and show your MIL

I’m a grinch, but would put it up nevertheless

Just say due to cost of living you don't want to put up additional lights.

I LOVE Christmas tat, but this is just appalling!
And not Christmassy!
And MIL will want it up EVERY year as child grows!

You have to rip the plaster off now, I'm afraid.

I suspect that was the plan 😉

Lol, I was going to buy this Dino cos DS would love it.

I wish I had family you could be honest with. Pretty much every member of my family plus DH's would take offence if you said that. My mother would have bought you the smallest pair of stud earrings for Christmas the next year with a receipt and a card saying "I've included the gift receipt in case it is too big". On seeing MIL's family I could have expected to have been greeted as "DH's wife, you know, the one who's never happy with her Christmas present." They're all slowly dying off and I will miss them all and their various and subtle ways of throwing you shade, but I will not miss the Christmas presents!

Take it back to homebase, get a credit, buy something you like.

And tell mil it made you laugh but unfortunately it's not practical, so, we got this with your money, think you

@Sinamin makes note
Thanks for that, I feel a shopping spree coming on! Those dinosaurs are rexcellent AND roarsome!

I would say you appreciate gesture lalala but as it needs power to inflate and you’re worried about energy bills this winter, pls return it - as it’s quite a drain on the electricity?

No one could argue that surely?

or leave it deflated in the garden (mind you I wouldn’t even want a deflated one)

Have you some other more tasteful decs you could put up outside, and say it doesn't fit your theme, but you would like to exchange it for something more in keeping with your theme, then you can swap it for some more tasteful outdoor lights. I mean he's kind of cute, and I would admire that in someone else's garden, just not in mine.

Closing the window on the cord would damage it and has a high risk of causing a fire. Leaving the window open is a security risk and invalidates your insurance (plus sending the heating bill rocketing).

No external socket, no dino.

Wtf is a Christmas dinosaur? That doesn't make any sense at all!

Unfortunately I am coming to this thread late in the day (figuratively speaking), so I have only read all of your posts @LavenderSweetPea!

My late MiL once gave us a crocheted (sic?) toilet roll warmer. Many of you might not know one of those is as I haven't seen any for years - basically it is like a 'knitted' dolls head and face, on top of a very large knitted skirt. You are supposed to put it over your next in line to be used toilet roll, and keep it on proud display on or next to your toilet.

Well I hate and hated those things, so I had to tell my MiL straight that they were not our type of thing, and gave it back to her. I don't think we ever got such an atrocious gift from her again 🙈

I also hate inflateable Christmas decorations, so I am glad that you have decided to be straight with her and tell her, it really is for the best.
Having said all of that, I do think that Master T Rex looks very cute, so if I was going to make an exception it would be with him 🤩

@BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn this changes everything. Does this mean other people with inflatables all have outdoor sockets? I had no idea.

I don't want to ruin any dreams you may have of neutral nurseries and beautifully aesthetic baby grows, but in 3 years time your kid is going to absolutely love that dinosaur and everything else like it. 😂

@Calliopespa What? It's true. We were walking home yesterday and the garden he liked the best was the one with the four Christmas trees with the grazing light up wicker reindeer. I practically had to carry him away from it. Later, I asked him if he was excited about getting our Christmas tree at the weekend and he said 'And a reindeer?' 😬

He DOES like the (creepy) climbing Father Christmas at the garden centre as well however.

And yeah, I hate plastic inflatables. I think they're tacky and always will do. They're just not to my taste and there's nothing wrong with that. I don't have to automatically like and buy them now that I have a child and nor does OP.