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)

😂“Glorious!”

Any use?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225880331821?hash=item349784562d:g:Wt8AAOSwIrNlZO46&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0Df6WpQGy57UcEVRiTrupu0CQ9XevZ5%2Bv%2B1GdcjWxkkNHskJx9eGEbnAVz1pmtjS5JOA%2B8DmT%2BYDiAUDDCUBMwLRNMnhHCPKcH0CQhBIDgX5z5xsZbZjREBizhy8bo%2B7whflDEXvEN4at4bnWb4bEw5ILqFFctAG7xGoC32bEdxUgEK%2FarXt9WDcSU%2FE51t4rsyhOjZzNN1ql9LJQqFGJwNbq7Y8648sB4P9iOHbQu%2Fil%2FJzCb5Be1G7THhE7e48ynNNWQr0mrAhc8aQjz2KMk4%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR86EgIOEYw

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204552819678?hash=item2fa04c53de:g:8RMAAOSwalFlYLrZ&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8JG8qYh%2FI%2BJr5mr7raVTkPnKwUJ2CAA9GP9R8zEYZQ%2BkCVFHWrcsdfkV8pVcE7X2xnEQMV9EX1d8YpMrsKZE3PhF2jz1P%2B4y1r0mHHKVqRaSChrD3TFUuXyp61XljBJZ66fw%2Fi%2FeYYjLwxMUs%2FP1qgA9HlIjz%2FCgqAXrMYACGWIxVm2byM7r20%2FlpdZUMnbgpb16OWr5%2F2lbPBS83E%2F65GGI0GMclD7%2BhpKJc7cbgnHLRAvOv0DOuW2AYaB5FGj7oUlUjKP1iauoKBfglrITJ%2Fg35mMCbNcyEbm3%2FvCrnw1BWS7DW%2FDlg1NEUySb%2FhRT%2BQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMzoSAg4Rj

this is what I was going to suggest.

I rather like this (from M & S)

I've changed my mind.

I want them.

If you already have a kid then you’ll have to suck it up and get over it as it’s for them really…

If you don’t have them already, I dunno, I’d put it up, it’s funny! Why do you care what other people think?

If it really is bothering you I’d put it up, take some pics, then cut it with a knife and say foxes got to it… it destroyed a neighbours too etc so no point buying another one to replace it as that’ll get shredded too.

We had inflatable snowmen but a fox cut through ours 2 days ago, it had only been up one night lol saw the cheeky F’er on cctv too 🤣

Oh I like him, he and his helpers look so happy and cheerful.
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.

No, she doesn't have to suck it up! Parents are allowed to enjoy their houses and free time; if clutter and dealing with clutter are making parents' lives difficult and making them become cross, resentful parents, it's fine to say "No."

I cant believe how much money they are !

I would put it up, take a picture, take it down, say it was stolen, and take it to a primary school for their next raffle.

Honestly OP I would stick it in the back garden for a few days, then donate it to a local Boys Brigade/children’s day care/church youth group. Kids would probably love it.

OP - I'm blaming you as I have bought one for my DH as his one and only xmas present. I'm pretty sure he will love it. If not well then this thread is to blame. ( we don't do big serious gifts). 😁

Not to guilt trip you any more (you’ve definitely made the right call to speak to MIL)… but there’s a house near us that has 3 of these giant inflatables outside every Christmas and my two small DC always get ridiculously excited just driving past them. So if you could find it in your heart to give a Dino a home for Christmas you might be spreading a lot of joy to a lot of DC!

My mother and mother in law both give us loads of unwanted items. I get privately upset about it, however seeing it from their point of view can be helpful. They are shopping, see a bargain, don't want or can't use it themselves, and think of you. They enjoy buying the bargain, and you are a great place to direct the item. They imagine you have the room to store it, and would love and appreciate it.

Terribly hurt feelings ensue if you don't play along. I've gotten over 15 items this year. I'm drowning. Boundaries cannot be set. A few years ago I was given a kilo of angelica (for cake flavouring) and 1.5 kilos of candied fruit, for cake decorating. I don't make much cake, and have never tried angelica! The use-by was 6 months, and we are a low-sugar, healthy household. 100% unusable. A bad gift. I tried to discuss it sensitively with my mother who was very upset. I pointed out that cake recipes use 20 grams of angelica at a time, so we are talking about 50 cakes in 6 months. She was MAD!

I told my family about the trex… DC adamant they want one… now they are sold out!!! 😭😭😭

I agree with others that you are going to get things for your child that you don't want/need/absolutely can't use/already have. Maybe masses and masses of things. You could proactively ask the biggest gifters if they would like suggestions or could keep an eye out for the things you still need (or gargains on those things). Hopefully they will get the things you need.

Decuttering, organising and storing items is a big, time-consuming job to add to all the other parts of running a house and raising a family. You could also put some items aside to regift (saves you a job), donate to fairs and raffles etc.

I would love something like that to go with the inflatables we have in the back garden. My youngest loves it all.

If you're selling it please message me.

I'd hate it, thankfully we don't have a front garden. It's an odd present to buy an adult with no current children.. Your husband's plan sounds sensible

Homebase’s marketing department need to headhunt you 😁

I just bought DD a bauble for her tree in her new flat. I hope she doesn't hate me

Though to be fair, it isn't 6 foot tall!

@LavenderSweetPea

You seem to have mad the paper

www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mum-law-gifted-ugly-6ft-31572489

Made not mad 🙄

@Lovebeingamummy2 😱I hope MIL doesn't read the mirror!

She sounds like a sweetheart, I'm sure she will see the funny side?

🤣🤣

Mind you, having just read it, I would be pissed off it I were you!