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)

I'm sorry but this is absolutely hillarious!!
A giant inflatable Christmas dinosaur!!! I didn't know such things existed.
I would put it up, let the local kids enjoy it for a few days and laugh it off to your mil, "I notice you didn't buy a massive dinosaur for your own house lol- thanks for that mil!" You could even buy her something worse (bigger,) in return and have a bit of a laugh about it if you can!

Send her a bigger one.

This thread has surprised me, I can’t stand Christmas and I’m not a family person however this chuffin inflatable dinosaur has made me come all over a bit sentimental. Thinking of some little old lady, giggling away thinking it would make you and the street laugh!

I know in reality she’s probably only about 50 but I still think it’s a nice thought! I vote for put it up

Tell her you put it up but it was vandalised/ripped in poor weather or ground conditions. Perhaps it would be safer to have it at her house next year.

Why’s it so hard to say the truth to loved ones, in a respectful way?

“Thank you for the dinosaur MIL! So kind of you. But I have to be honest, it’s just not our type of thing. Can you get a refund? Or if it’s a credit note I wouldn’t say no to a nice decorative cabbage plant for the doorstep instead.”

MIL’s surprise dinosaur becomes a family joke you all laugh about kindly for Christmases to come and gently tease her with dino-themed drawings from the kids.

Warm, kind, honesty! All this formality and hiding the truth and real feelings - especially from family and friends - doesn’t half make our relationships brittle. 😞

I agree with everyone who said you need to be polite but honest.

"Hi MIL, it was kind of you to think of us but we're really not keen on having a giant dinosaur in our front garden. Did you keep the receipt? If so I can drop it off at your house so you can return it."

Tell her you don't have room for it but offer to go and put it up at her house so you can enjoy coming to see it.

Tell her it’s not really your thing and then donate it to a nursery or children’s home/care facility.

You learn something new every day. There are giant inflatable dinos that light up for every occasion

Bless her, if she's not very well off perhaps she saw it as something big she could 'treat' but was pleased to get a bargain in the BF sales.

I'd just thank her but say it's a lot of fun and a nice thought but too impractical size wise and can it go back.

Either that or just put it up this year, have a bit of a laugh wirh it and then claim it's broken next year and pass on to charity or somewhere where children might enjoy it.

Is it wrong that I want to buy one and put it up in the back garden to surprise the dog?

Donate to a school or children's hospital and tell MIL that they needed it more than you do?

There are clearly two kinds of people in the world, those that love inflatable Christmas dinosaurs and those that don’t. I’m not ashamed to confess to being one of the former

I want one too and I live in a one bedroom flat on the fifth floor 😀🦖

Is anyone else getting a Beyoncé the chicken Knock Knock, Motherfucker vibe from this dinosaur?

Just me?

if your DH won't step up, OP, you will have to.
You can be lovely (you sound lovely so it won't be hard) about it, but it's a good point about a) the environment and b) spending money that could be put to better use (especially with a child on the way)

I have 3 or 4 sparkly dinosaurs on my tree, and i love dinosaurs generally, but that would be too much, even for me.

some times even if you say to people nicely you dont like the gift they object and it comes up again another time. People say you should be grateful for what you receive. Everyone has there opinions and take on things though,

Wish people would just ask in a case like this what the receiver really wants?
Meant with a good heart but not what you want? Hmmmm.

Donate to charity or for a raffle: ask on local FB for ideas where it could be used…maybe a hospital or Hospice would like it, for example. Then just get your DH to tell her you found a new home for it and it’s not your type of thing. If you lie that it was stolen or damage it, you risk getting the same again! Good luck rehoming Rex 🤩

I would put it outside with a sign saying "Happy Christmas - dinosaur kindly gifted by my MIL!" 😀

Christ that's a bold present. Does she like you?

My dog would probably tear it to shreds.

There was a small plastic reindeer outside neighbour's house which he took exception to, he must have thought it was a new kind of animal encroaching on his territory. Luckily he was on lead and I managed to drag him away .

I find gift giving "etiquette" so frustrating.

If the person is a close family member/friend then they should be able to cope with being told that you don't really like the gift but appreciate the thought (and maybe you should just go for a meal out together and not bother with gifts in the future).

(Disclaimer - unless they are toxic and you feel obliged to stay on their good side due to family relationship, in which case you will have to blow up the dinosaur and wheel it out year after year however awful it is)

@orangeginaa you might well ask 😂but yes we get on well. Whilst I have no idea what she was thinking, this dinosaur was sent with a good heart.

I've definately decided we are going to tell MIL thanks but no thanks. We will either return it or donate it somewhere/ask friends with kids if they fancy it - I honestly had no idea until posting here how many people would indeed love the dinosaur. Such a shame DH and I aren't among them!

I actually almost feel BAD for the dinosaur now for not loving him when so many other people would have. I can't consign him to a dark cupboard somewhere never to see the light of day.

YAB so U. What kind of person doesn't want a six foot plastic dinosaur in their garden?