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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Worst Christmas present

461 replies

Bookworm512 · 25/12/2023 20:40

I feel ungrateful but also very disappointed. My husband is crap at gifting but this really takes the biscuit. I am a 53 year old woman and we have been together for 26 years. He bought me a periscope. Am I being unreasonable to be disappointed and ungrateful?😓

OP posts:
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6
Bigbobalady · 27/12/2023 20:41

🤣🤣🤣💀

LyndaSnellsSniff · 27/12/2023 20:42

My parents bought me a figurine of a naked woman reading a book.

Apparently, my mum spotted it "on the internet" and thought, "oooo! LyndaSnellsSniff would love that!"

She really doesn't.

IjustbelieveinMe · 27/12/2023 20:42

Deathraystare · 27/12/2023 19:02

@IjustbelieveinMe ·

Get your revenge. Hide it somewhere well. When he asks suggestively if you want to try it (hem hem!) look confused. Let him explain, slap your forehead (lightly). "Oh I thought it was hand cream! I gave it to Jenny as she hadn't got any for Christmas and was out of it!"

Haha! I already wrote a text to him (we don't live together) writing how lucky am I to get lube on Christmas Day? He thought I was being funny, but I am not...

Pigsinpainauchocolat · 27/12/2023 20:43

Letstrysomethingnew · 27/12/2023 20:10

Nearly everyone bought me toiletries or skincare. In some cases, very nice stuff. Grateful to have lovely people in my life who think of me at Christmas. But, as I try to skip into conversation throughout the year to avoid this happening every blumin Christmas and birthday, I have really, really sensitive skin and can't use any of it.

Sell sell sell! Then buy something you want with the proceeds.

I got an amazing amount for an unopened perfume that had been in my wardrobe for a few years. Apparently it was discontinued and was snapped up by someone who loved that particular one.

Nanny0gg · 27/12/2023 20:43

littlebopeepp234 · 27/12/2023 20:10

🙄 must not use certain words for fear of causing offence. Despite the fact that wasn’t my intention!

Show quote history

It's frequently trotted out as though the 'older generation' have never been the 'younger generation'

We are shit parents/grandparents/In-laws because... older generation
We don't know how to behave because...
We are generally in the wrong because... well, you get the picture

It's a lazy generalisation and yes I and many others on here are offended by it

Come up with better reasoning/arguments

SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 20:44

Avacardo2023 · 27/12/2023 19:34

@littlebopeepp234 I agree with you - I'm always baffled when people gift stuff that you buy every day that's not even special. I was on another thread where someone was asking for ideas for their new boyfriend and people were suggesting good coffee or cheese and that's not even a gift in my mind.

It depends on finances.

Im delighted to receive good coffee or cheese. It’s not something I can afford so it’s a real treat.

Kellioo · 27/12/2023 20:46

MIL got me a floor length nighty with a big mouse on it. Perhaps she is hoping there will be no more grandchildren!

SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 20:48

I don’t think he’s picked up a random item and gifted it to his wife for the sake of it.

More likely he’s bought a periscope because it’s a toy he wants.

Poodleydoodley · 27/12/2023 20:49

I put lots of thought into presents for a now ex. He took part in military re-enactments for world war 2 so I got him cuff links made out of bullet cases from world war 2. He also liked listening to rain in bed so I got him a dvd of rain and storms.
He got me a book. He didn’t look in the book - he just saw a horse on the front and thought that will do.

AInightingale · 27/12/2023 20:52

Cerealkiller4U · 27/12/2023 19:17

I got a steam iron for Xmas once and I bloody loved it!!!

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There is so much useless unwanted crap gifted at Christmas that I can't see the problem with saying to someone, 'look, I don't want to buy you something you don't like or need, and you've obviously got nearly everything, so is there anything you need for the house?' I'd love a new iron, a new bedside lamp, a new set of tumblers, even a new recycling caddy, ffs, at least I wouldn't have to buy them.

Mothership4two · 27/12/2023 20:53

Kellioo · 27/12/2023 20:46

MIL got me a floor length nighty with a big mouse on it. Perhaps she is hoping there will be no more grandchildren!

😂

Zebracat · 27/12/2023 20:55

I got an alpine trough. Absolutely thrilled. I had salivated over them at the garden centre a few months ago, but did not know he noticed. Really difficult thing to be clandestine about too.
we think of gift giving as an innate talent, but it isn’t, it’s learned behaviour. We have always tried to surprise and delight, or to meet a need.We also gave our children a budget and as much help as they needed to get gifts for everyone in the family, from a really young age. We never had a massive budget, but gifts were expected to be thoughtful, personal and nicely wrapped. I feel really sad when I hear of families where only the children are bought gifts. Surely everyone deserves a recognition, and to experience the joy of giving . Having said that, bad gifts make great talking points. My ds was once given 7 slices of beautifully cooked bacon.

ireallycantthinkofaname · 27/12/2023 20:56

My crap present is actually turning out to be stupidly useful (a rechargeable torch). I was so disappointed when I opened it but nope, it's been really handy 😆
(Bit sad of me i know but still).

Mothership4two · 27/12/2023 20:56

@loveulotslikejellytots read your post and spat out my Baileys. The thought of a useless multipack of brown knickers that you could tuck my tits in really tickled me

Fannyfiggs · 27/12/2023 21:00

ireallycantthinkofaname · 27/12/2023 20:56

My crap present is actually turning out to be stupidly useful (a rechargeable torch). I was so disappointed when I opened it but nope, it's been really handy 😆
(Bit sad of me i know but still).

I got a headtorch and it's great so I agree, a torch is so bloody useful 😁

Fannyfiggs · 27/12/2023 21:01

OP, do you think your real gift is on the roof and you need to use the periscope to look for it? Like a weird treasure hunt.

Stressybetty · 27/12/2023 21:07

mauvish · 27/12/2023 20:36

OMG that mask is even better/worse than I'd imagined!

Did you keep a straight face? Well, I guess it wouldn't matter if you couldn't, you could always put the mask on to hide your true feelings ---

Show quote history

To be honest I was speechless. Then he ran off and came back
in with the Labrador one on. Got me to put mine on. Says on Amazon that the eyes are transparent but actually they aren't and there's just a small gap either side of them to try and peer through. Neither of us could see out so hopefully that's ended that idea!

Mothership4two · 27/12/2023 21:07

@Fannyfiggs

OP, do you think your real gift is on the roof and you need to use the periscope to look for it? Like a weird treasure hunt.

😆

Is he a fan of Taskmaster?

SoOutingWhoCares · 27/12/2023 21:13

This is going to sound really ungrateful, and I am sorry as I'm sure the giver meant well...

I am in my 30s and over the past couple of years became a carer for my newly disabled mother who is in her late 70s...I love her very much but I have given up a lot and feel old before my time. I go to work and am a carer and that's pretty much it. No room for a love life or much fun.

Anyway, we were both given matching button up unisex flannel pyjamas by a friend, sort of a grandfather style. For some reason, it's upset me. Old, sexless, unfeminine, have basically become one with my mother as she can do very little without me - they just feel like a symbol of how life is and I hate those bloody PJs. My Mum isn't too keen on them either! I'd bin them but the friend would know and has already been asking if we're wearing them.

I've also been given a shit ton of candles.

AudibleListener · 27/12/2023 21:17

AIBU? We spent Christmas at wife’s parents’ this year. We swap each year so next year will be at my parents’. Got to my family on Boxing Day this year to find that they had opened all their Christmas presents from me and my brother on Christmas Day when I wasn’t there. I ordered/shopped for all the gifts. They’ve never done that before and, on the years we’ve not been at theirs on Christmas Day, they’ve always waited til we get there Boxing Day. Plus they didn’t actually talk to me about when to come over even though I asked. When we got there my brother was already there so there had been some communication between them just not with me. I’m feeling very hurt by it and I’m feeling like my wife and I are just an after thought.

AudibleListener · 27/12/2023 21:19

Sorry just realised I put that on your thread instead of starting my own. I’m new here!

favouriteyellowsocks · 27/12/2023 21:22

My DH gifted me a brown bath towel

HabitsDieHard · 27/12/2023 21:36

@SoOutingWhoCares
Ugh sounds well-meaning but very upsetting and like the nighties are symbolising all the difficulties you're dealing with. Who gives matching nighties to adults, what an eejit. Sorry you're having these struggles, hope something good happens for you soon

BooneyBeautiful · 27/12/2023 21:39

This thread is making me cry with laughter! The trouble is I tested positive for Covid on Christmas Day and my ribs are sore from coughing. Every time I laugh, it's so painful!

HappyHen17 · 27/12/2023 21:39

I got an Asda basics lady shave from my BIL! Thankfully I opened it when he wasn’t there as my face doesn’t hide my feelings!