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)

OMG, I need this, OP if it is this how long is the power cord?

I was going say pretend the kids are afraid of it. But you haven’t even given birth yet. What was she thinking? Mad.

What if it blew away???? 🤗

I would wait until darkness then put it up on MILs front garden. She can then see it lit up every day.

i cannot imagine a grown woman buying this for two adults with no children (at the moment)

agree with @Tomelette - put it up. Take photo. Then oh dear it was stolen/blew away/punctured by crazy local person/next doors dog ate it.

OP! You have just found out this morning that your neighbours child is TERRIFIED of dinosaurs.

In fact all inflatables make them nervous ( in case she offers to swap it for a snowman)

Your poor neighbour was in tears to you earlier about how she is dreading Christmas because of the tacky decorations

Maybe your area could have an episode of vandalism once the dinosaur is up? Repeated episodes if necessary?

@Aposterhasnoname the cord is 5m. I also think this was a big problem in the 'it blew away plan' because surely the cord is intended to be trapped in my living room window?

OMG, my Gdcs would love it! Send it here, I’ll pay the postage!

And you can tell your MiL (I’m being thoroughly 😈 here) that a little boy who’s very ill was visiting someone locally, you can’t remember who, and fell instantly in love with it, so they stopped, rang your doorbell and asked where you got it.

So out of the sheer kindness of your hearts, and in the true spirit of Christmas, you gave it to him. 🎄🎅🏻❤️

If you don't tell her you're in for years and years of her buying more 'whimsical' tat for you, so bite the bullet.

Then again, my MIL ignored us and kept buying large, singing animatronic crap items no matter what we said to try and stop her.

There's enough plastic claptrap in the landfill. Return it, don't placate her by faking it.

The gall of sending something so tacky and cartoonish for someone else's decorating scheme is mind-boggling. Let her put it up at home.

Tell her.

I am all for taking the more diplomatic route for gifts usually, but I feel like buying a 6ft light up dinosaur is a risky enough gift that you must be half prepared for it to be handed back with a 'thanks but no thanks'.

Plus, it shuts down this kind of thing for the future (hopefully). You don't want for it to be 'blown away' only for next year it to be inflatable santa's legs for out the chimey etc.

I would say something about how there is an informal rule in the neighborhood about not putting “unusual” Christmas decorations up.

Next year, before Xmas presents are bought, talk to her about your concerns about the environment and say that from this year onwards, you’d like to give each other consumables only, like wine, tea or food.

I would go around to her house in the middle of the night and erect it in her garden. Then text - 'look out your front window. SURPRISE!' We know how much you like it so wanted to surprise you.

Have you got a dog? Say the dog hates it/wouldn't stop barking at it.

Omg!

You need to be honest even though it’s hard.

Send it to me, we will adopt it and give it a loving home.

Hope it doesn’t come with the MIL included, buying a giant dinosaur to someone who doesn’t even have kids yet is nuts.

My nearly 2 year old would love that!
I would just be honest with MIL.

Ohhhh I love it. Doing my yard this weekend, we have a huge Santa (same style as the Dino) penguins, a giant snow globe, reindeer, etc. Now I think what I really need is a giant Dino.
I'm sure if you posted it for free on FB there would be a local family who would love to adopt him.

Swap it for a what? A giant inflatable Christmas rhinoceros?

It's like reading a script of a British sitcom....where everyone is absolutely incapable of being honest but nice, but invent weird elaborate excuses.

Oh that's pretty amazing. I think that you're being rather ungracious. You will be the envy of the neighbourhood. Just relax your standards and go with the flow!

This is hilarious! You should tell that it was damaged so you took it back to Homebase and give her £25. Then do the raffle!

That is awesome. I love your MIL.

You have made an environmental pledge with other local people so you can’t possibly have something electrical in your garden?